Samoa

The Pacific community in Wellington came out in force last night to support Stand for Samoa, a concert raising funds for families affected by the measles epidemic in Samoa.

A doctor leading New Zealand's medical response to the measles epidemic in Samoa is hopeful the country's mass vaccination programme is beginning to help.

A Samoan anti-vaccination advocate has been granted bail with strict conditions after his first court appearance today.

Some parents of children with measles in Samoa appear to be panicking over the care their infants are receiving, with at least three families reportedly taking their children out of hospital.

The death toll from Samoa's measles epidemic has reached 70, with two deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

It's "really disappointing" to see outbreaks of measles in 2019 when there is an inexpensive, safe and efficacious vaccine available, UNICEF says. Audio

Samoa has made their best start to the World Sevens Series in five years as they finished fourth on an emotional weekend in Dubai.

Sixty-eight people have now died in Samoa due to the measles epidemic.

A Samoan anti-vaccination activist, Edwin Tamasese, is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court today.

The Department of Health in American Samoa has now declared a measles outbreak after confirmation of nine samples sent to Hawaii for testing.

There are now 65 measles related deaths in Samoa following two more fatalities over the past 24 hours.

Hawai'i's Lieutenant Governor has applauded the Samoan government's moves to boost the country's vaccination coverage, saying it is saving lives.

There have now been 63 measles-related deaths in Samoa, with one fatality in the last 24 hours.

In New Zealand, leaders from Dunedin's Samoan community have met with management of the local paper to express the hurt and harm caused by a cartoon making light of the Samoa measles epidemic. Audio