6 Aug 2014

Samoa says chikungunya not confirmed

2:05 pm on 6 August 2014

Samoa's Director General of the Ministry of Health, Leausa Tole'afoa Dr Take Naseri, says suspected cases of chikungunya in the country have not been confirmed.

The Director General also says there are no confirmed cases of dengue fever, as had been reported in the Talamua Online last week.

He asked the media outlet to apologise because the report had prompted concerns from the health ministries of overseas partners, in particular counterparts of the Small Islands Developing States.

He says 19 suspected cases of chikungunya have been recorded, and blood samples have been taken overseas for testing.

The first suspected case of a 14 year old girl has been discharged from the national hospital.

In neighbouring American Samoa, there are more than 300 confirmed cases of chikungunya.