18 confirmed cases of measles in the country

There are now 18 confirmed cases of measles in the country. 

The Health Ministry says the latest confirmed cases are a 3-month-old baby from Wailali Settlement in Wainadoi and a 1 year 5 months old child from Wailekutu in Lami. 

The Ministry says the outbreak response teams have rapidly responded to the latest cases.

12 cases have been confirmed from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision (Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi and Makosoi Deuba)

4 cases from Suva Subdivision (Samabula, Vatuwaqa, Tacirua, Wailekutu)

2 cases from Rewa Subdivision (Koronivia, Nasilai Village Nakelo)
 

In the first two days of phase two of the mass vaccination campaign, over 70 health teams have vaccinated more than 45,000 people across the Central Division.  

Opening times of vaccination booths have been changed to 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday and they will also be open from 9am to 3pm on Saturday in all locations.  

Measles is a highly contagious disease; therefore, non-essential travel to Serua/Namosi and Nasilai Village in Nakelo is strongly discouraged, as are mass gatherings in these areas. The Ministry advises that it will not support and has not supported any requests to condone mass gatherings in these locations.

If you need to travel to these areas, please get vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before travel. Please avoid taking those that cannot get vaccinated (for example, babies under the age of 6 months and pregnant women) to the outbreak areas.

Close to 100,000 people around the country were vaccinated in phase one of the campaign. This includes over 20,000 people in the outbreak area of Serua/Namosi.  People who were vaccinated in phase one of the campaign will not be vaccinated again in phase two.

In the Central Division only, the campaign will target all children aged 6 months to 5 years, all people born between 1980 and 2000 (19 to 39-year-olds, who should have ID available if asked) and all residents of Serua/Namosi aged 6 months and older.