Two babies and an adult are believed to have died in the measles epidemic in Samoa.
Director General of Health Leausa Dr Take Naseri (middle) with two senior doctors involved in the preparations and awareness of measles in Samoa. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tipi Autagavaia
The government has also ordered all preschools and day care centres closed until further notice.
In its latest advisory on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said there had been 15 confirmed cases in Samoa, but there were 314 suspected cases - most of them children under the age of four.
An eight-month-old, a 14-month old and a 37-year-old are all thought to have died from the highly-contagious virus.
Measles vaccination centres have been set up in both Upolu and Savai'i, and the government is urging those who have not been immunised to do so.
A measles epidemic was declared in Samoa earlier this month, after it was spread from New Zealand where there is an outbreak in the Auckland area.
A Samoan measles poster. Photo: Samoa Ministry of Health
