Samoa Declares State of Emergency Amid Measles Epidemic

Samoa, with a population of 200,000, has reported 1,797 cases of measles. (Wikimedia Commons)

A measles epidemic in Samoa has killed 22 people, and there have been 1,797 reported cases as of November 23. The Pacific island nation, with a population just under 200,000, has declared a state of emergency. 

According to UNICEF, around five new cases are reported every hour in recent days, and nearly everyone killed by the disease has been a child under four years old. 

“Children are the most at risk during a measles outbreak. UNICEF is working together with WHO to… reach children with lifesaving vaccines as quickly as possible,” said UNICEF Pacific representative Sheldon Yett. 

The WHO recommends at least a 95-percent immunization rate in a community to ensure “herd immunity” against measles. By contrast, the immunization coverage in Samoa is estimated at a mere 28 to 40 percent. The WHO posits that misinformation about the effects of vaccines is only partly to blame, as a lack of access to vaccination has also contributed to low coverage. In fact, due to inappropriately administered shots that led to the deaths of two babies last year, the government briefly suspended the MMR vaccines.

However, in light of the latest epidemic, the Samoan government has instituted a compulsory vaccination program. Furthermore, authorities have closed all schools and prevented every child under the age of 19 from attending public gatherings. 

UNICEF has delivered more than 110,000 doses of vaccines in an effort to boost immunization rates on the island. Samoa’s neighbors—Australia and New Zealand—have also sent in waves of doctors and supplies. 

Nevertheless, in an atmosphere of growing desperation, some parents are turning to alternative cures. A local businessman claims that his “Kangen Water,” which is just filtered tap water, can alleviate the symptoms of the virus. 

Samoa Attorney General Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff has warned against advertising false cures. "Law enforcement is open to receiving notice, complaints, or evidence of any person or organisation, that is discouraging or going as far as preventing our community from vaccination," he said. 

Similar outbreaks have also struck Tonga and Fiji, although there have been no deaths thus far due to substantially higher immunization rates. The surge in infection rates in the Pacific is part of a worldwide trend, as the WHO claims that there have been three times as many reported cases of measles in 2019 as there were in 2018. 

However, this virus is preventable. According to the CDC, “more than 21 million lives have been saved and measles deaths have been reduced by 80% since 2000 [because of vaccination]. Additional work is required to ensure high levels of vaccination coverage in all areas. Without urgent efforts to address gaps in coverage, outbreaks like the ones occurring now will continue to occur.”