A STATE of emergency has been declared in neighbouring Samoa by its government this evening as the measles epidemic continue to claim lives in that region, TVNZ’s One News reported less than hour ago.
It reported that there had been nine suspected deaths from the disease – most were children – and more than 700 cases reported by the Samoan health authority.
All isolation wards are full and the main hospital is at capacity, and the news agency further reports that many children are in critical condition.
The state of emergency will include a ban on any mass gatherings and an urgency will be given to vaccinating 100,000 people.
