Measles epidemic in Samoa takes another 6 lives, bringing the toll to 39

There have been another six deaths in Samoa's measles epidemic, bringing the toll to 39.

Radio New Zealand reports all but four of the deaths are children under the age of four, including the six who died in the past 24 hours.

And 190 people with the56 disease remain in the hospital, including 25 critically ill children and pregnant women.

Latest update: 2,936 measles cases have been reported since the outbreak with 250 recorded in the last 24 hours. To date, 39 measles related deaths have been recorded. Since the Mass Vaccination Campaign on 20 Nov 2019, the Ministry has successfully vaccinated 44,907 individuals. pic.twitter.com/ZsqRGj9tNQ

— Government of Samoa (@samoagovt) November 28, 2019

A mass vaccination campaign is underway with dozens of New Zealand and Australian nurses in Samoa to assist.

Samoa's top health official has predicted the worst was still to come.

[Source:Radio NZ]