Transcript
After declaring a state of emergency on Friday, Samoa is rushing to vaccinate its entire population against measles.
On Friday, under the emergency declaration, measles vaccinations become mandatory under Samoan law.
For many, it's a race against time: on Tuesday the government said there were 16 measles-related deaths.
New Zealand's Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito Su'a William Sio, says holiday travel from New Zealand may exacerbate an already-worsening crisis.
"During the Christmas period, there's going to be a lot of social functions, as there usually is. Family reunions, birthdays, weddings, you name it. And if people are travelling from New Zealand into the islands, particularly Samoa, my advice is make sure you are immunised."
Officials fear the latest death toll, which spiked from six deaths confirmed on Friday, could worsen, with more than 1000 suspected cases.
Immunisation rates in Samoa are thought to be as low as 60 per cent.
New Zealand, where the measles outbreak originated, has sent 30 nurses over to assist local hospitals, as well as vaccines and other medical supplies.
A general manager at Counties Manukau Health in New Zealand, Elizabeth Powell, says another three deaths are suspected.
"We just have to work with what we've got at the moment and support trying to do the best coverage of the population."
Meanwhile, Samoa's national emergency agency has assumed responsibility for the measles epidemic.
The National Emergency Operation Centre said on Monday it's managing an action plan for fighting the disease's spread.
As well as mandatory vaccinations, Friday's emergency declaration restricts hospital visits, and bars children under the age of 18 from visiting medical facilities.
But the director of New Zealand's Immunisation Advisory Centre, Nikki Turner, says the new measures won't be enough on their own.
"It is absolutely vital that Samoa moves like it's doing to restore faith in the health services to really support their people. So legislation alone without restoring trust is unlikely to have much effect."
Dr Turner says many Samoans have lost faith in vaccines after the deaths of two infants last year from an incorrectly mixed measles drug.
A freelance journalist in Apia, Maina Misa Foma'i Papalii, says immunisation efforts are being hampered by false warnings against vaccines on social media.
"Some of the people are asking question whether they should have they should be going home or it will be an early Christmas holiday right now because to avoid the spread of the measles."
UNICEF says it's delivered more than 110,000 doses of measles' vaccines to Samoa.
Elsewhere, in Fiji, health authorities on Tuesday confirmed seven cases of measles, up from two last week.
This is Mackenzie Smith.
