Samoa

At least 15 children in Samoa are understood to have died from measles, or its complications, as the epidemic takes hold in Samoa.

Samoa have thrashed Papua New Guinea 65-12 to make an emphatic start to the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.

New Zealand has announced a deployment of 18 more vaccination nurses to support the Samoan government's response to the measles epidemic.

The stand-off between Samoa's seven television stations and the Office of the Regulator has taken its first casualty with the operators of BYU TV not renewing its licence.

A sacked senior prison officer in Samoa is seeking legal advice to get her job back after the Supreme Court acquitted her of theft.

Samoa is experiencing a crisis of trust over its measles vaccines program, a New Zealand immunisation expert says.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Samoa has cancelled all their services and gatherings until a measles-related state of emergency passes.

Tonga's opening match at the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship has been cancelled after a player was reported to have suspected symptoms of measles.

The Department of Health in American Samoa is discouraging travel to Samoa until the measles epidemic there is under control.

It is now a legal requirement for Samoans to receive their measles vaccination and public gatherings involving children have been banned.

The worst is still to come in Samoa's measles epidemic, according to the country's top health official.

New Zealand is sending nurses and vaccines to Samoa to help the country tackle its worsening measles outbreak.

The University of the South Pacific's campus in Samoa has cancelled its 2019 graduation ceremony because of the measles epidemic.

The Samoa women's rugby coach is disappointed more players have not made themselves available for the national team, which is attempting to qualify for the next World Cup.

Two flights from Samoa to Auckland during the weekend were carrying passengers with measles, Auckland's Regional Public Health Service says.