2019 Tonga measles outbreak

The 2019 Tonga measles outbreak began in October 2019 after a squad of Tongan rugby players came back from New Zealand.[4] The epidemic as of December 8 is currently ongoing. As of January 5, there have been 612 cases of measles.

2019 Tonga measles outbreak
DiseaseMeasles
Virus strainD8 strain (genotype) of measles virus [1]
Index caseOctober, 2019
DatesOctober 22, 2019 –
present[2]
Confirmed cases612[3]
Deaths
0
Government website
https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/tonga-measles-outbreak-2019-situation-report-8

Background
A hypothetical measles timeline exposure to illness

Measles has been spreading throughout the Pacific region, with outbreaks in Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, the Philippines and New Zealand.[5]

Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have all declared states of emergency to tackle their 2019 measles outbreaks. When contrasting the scores of deaths in Samoa to the lack of fatalities in Tonga and Fiji, this is put down to the far higher vaccination rates in Tonga and Fiji compared to the 31% in Samoa.[6]

Most of the cases have been on the island of Tongatapu where the first cases started.[7]

Vaccine hesitancy

The outbreak has been attributed to a sharp drop in measles vaccination in Samoa from the previous year, following an incident in 2018 when two infants died in Samoa shortly after receiving measles vaccinations, which led the country to suspend its measles vaccination program.[8] The reason for the two infants' deaths was incorrect preparation of the vaccine by two nurses who mixed vaccine powder with expired anaesthetic.[9]

Government response

Ministry of Health chief executive, Siale 'Akau'ola, said more than 12,000 people had been re-vaccinated. The vaccination rate in Tonga was over 90% which might stem the infection rates seen in Samoa and New Zealand.[10]

International response

UNICEF has sent 110,500 vaccines to Samoa. Tonga and Fiji have also declared states of emergency.[11] Tonga closed all schools for several days while American Samoa required all travelers from Tonga and Samoa to present proof of vaccination.[12]

Since 1 October, UNICEF has delivered 12,000 measles vaccines to Tonga.[13]

On December 10th, American Samoa declared a measle outbreak and closed public schools and park gatherings[14] and suspended all entry permits for those travelling through Samoa and Tonga to American Samoa.[15]

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See also

References
  1. "WHO/UNICEF SECRETARIAT SUPPORTING MEASLES OUTBREAK PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE IN THE PACIFIC" (PDF). WHO. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  2. "Samoa, Fiji and Tonga - Measles outbreak (DG ECHO, WHO, UNICEF and media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 25 November 2019) - Samoa". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  3. "It's okay to vaccinate, Minister Aupito spreads the message". Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. "Tonga Measles Outbreak 2019 - Situation Report #8". Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. Whyte, Chelsea (6 December 2019). "Samoan government takes drastic measures to fight measles outbreak". Retrieved 8 December 2019. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "The wrong jab that helped cause a measles crisis". BBC News. UK. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019.
  7. "440 measles cases reported in outbreak". 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  8. France-Presse, Agence (28 November 2019). "Samoa measles outbreak: WHO blames anti-vaccine scare as death toll hits 39". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  9. Beat, Pacific (2 August 2019). "'Her body was turning black': Samoan nurses jailed for infant vaccination deaths". ABC News. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  10. "Tonga close to achieving measles vaccination targets - Ministry". 29 November 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  11. "Samoa measles outbreak worsens". 23 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  12. Samoa's measles crisis has claimed 15 lives but how did the outbreak start?, Tasha Wibawa, ABC, 18 Nov 2019
  13. "UNICEF delivers over 260,000 vaccines and medical supplies to fight measles outbreaks in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga". Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  14. "Hawaii Lt Gov Says Samoa Medical Mission Won't Be The Last". Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  15. "American Samoa tightens entry as measles fears grow". Retrieved 10 December 2019.
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