Measles claims 22 people in Samoa

Two more people in Samoa have died in the measles outbreak that's killed 22.

Samoa's Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said 153 new measles cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,797.

Radio NZ reports about 92 percent of the 147 people being treated at health facilities are children, with 11 critically ill children in intensive care.

One couple have lost three of their five children. The majority of the infected are on Upolu island.

The ministry said a mass vaccination campaign was launched on Wednesday and more than 10,128 people have since been immunised.

Other measures include barring pregnant women who are unvaccinated or uncertain of their vaccination status from work, travel restrictions between the two main islands and public gatherings being restricted under a state of emergency.

Radio NZ