Page 26 - IB November 2019

Health Health

A Samoan child is vaccinated against measles Photo: UNICEF
GOING VIRAL

Measles outbreak takes a heavy toll

By Rowena Singh and Samantha Magick In an Instagram post on 19 November, she wrote:
“This is the worst possible outcome for Samoa. Instead of shipping over high
The deadly measles outbreak currently spreading through the Pacific is exacting a volumes of VIT A, which has been PROVEN to reduce infant death from the
great human, and likely significant economic cost. measles virus... they are now shipping over 3,000 more vaccines. My heart hurts for
At least 15 children and one adult in Samoa have died from measles or its the families who don’t know any different, who have no education or understanding
complications according to the National Emergency Coordination Centre. A State of of how to treat measles effectively and take their precious children into a hospital
Emergency was declared in Samoa on November 15. The outbreak traces its origins where they’re administering antibiotics for a VIRAL infection!??!?! I can’t help but
to New Zealand. think W.H.O (riddled with conflict of interests and funded by the pharmaceutical
Samoa has closed all schools as well as its only university. Graduation ceremonies industry) is making an example out of Samoa and would rather send vaccines first
were cancelled and preschools, day care centres and outpatient clinics at hospitals instead of Vit A, a vitamin they know will reduce deaths and allow children to receive
have been closed. In declaring the State of Emergency, Acting Prime Minister Faima- (sic) the correct treatment they actually need to recover.”
lotoa Kika Stowers-Ah Kau announced that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) UNICEF, which has been active in the measles response across the Pacific, is
vaccines are now mandatory and that children under 17 may not attend public holding firm on its position. “As this outbreak has shown, measles can kill. The
gatherings. measles vaccine saves lives. We need to fight not just this immediate outbreak, but
Samoa has more than 1060 suspected cases according to UNICEF, and the rapid any reluctance of parents of parents not to vaccinate their children, says UNICEF’s
spread of measles has been attributed to the country’s poor vaccination rates. Representative to the Pacific, Sheldon Yett. “That’s why we are working with gov-
“[Samoa] has one of the poorest uptakes of measles vaccine in the world, more ernments and other partners to get children and others at risk vaccinated now.”
in line with some of the most devastated countries in Africa. Samoa’s immunisation Fiji and Tonga have also declared measles outbreaks, although the situation in
coverage has trended down for almost 20 years leaving a large proportion of the these countries is not as dire as Samoa’s.
population susceptible to diseases such as measles. The estimate for 2018 was 31% by Fiji has recorded seven confirmed cases of measles from the Serua/Namosi subdivi-
WHO-UNICEF, and 40% from local administrative data. Whichever you believe, it sion close to Suva and an active vaccination program targeting high risks groups is
is dismal,” said University of Auckland Vaccinologist, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, via underway.
the Science Media Centre. There have been more than 177 suspected cases of measles in Tonga at the time
“I think we have been very complacent especially the public at large and it’s also of press.
our fault for failing to convince them to do immunisation,” Samoa’s director general The virus was first identified in a high school rugby group, which returned from a
of health Leausa Take Naseri told local media this month. New Zealand tour on October 1. A separate Futsal team was also quarantined after
Samoa’s already low vaccination rates were exacerbated when the vaccination travelling to a regional tournament in New Caledonia through New Zealand. Seven
programme was suspended last year after two babies died after being given incorrect members of that team developed measles. All government primary schools were
immunisation shots. The two nurses responsible have since been jailed. closed for two weeks to further contain the outbreak of measles. This closure will be
Samoa has not been immune to the anti-vax movement either, with prominent reviewed in late November.
anti-vax campaigner Taylor Winterstein—who Samoa barred from giving seminars While vaccination rates in Tonga are high, health authorities say they may re-vac-
earlier this year— using social media channels to agitate against the government’s cinate thousands of people, as a number suspected of having measles have a two-dose
mandatory vaccination orders. recorded history of vaccination.

26 Islands Business, November 2019