FIJI now has 21 confirmed cases of measles, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has reported.
In its fifteenth media update today since the measles outbreak last month, the ministry now confirms that the latest confirmed cases are a 13-year-old from Nasilai Village in Nakelo, Rewa; and a 27-year-old from Saumakia Village in Naitasiri.
It has been established that both new cases were contacts of previously confirmed measles cases in those villages.
“The Rewa and Naitasiri outbreak response teams have carried out the necessary interventions including isolation of cases, quarantine and vaccination of contacts and at risk communities as appropriate,” the ministry stated.
It stated that the nine-month-old old child from Davuilevu in Rewa – who had also stayed at Saumakia Settlement in Naitasiri – reported as a confirmed case in the last update was still admitted under isolation at CWM and in a stable condition.
To date, the 21 cases are from the following areas in the Central Division:
- 12 cases from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision (Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi, and Makosoi Deuba)
- 4 cases from Suva Subdivision (Samabula, Vatuwaqa, Tacirua, Wailekutu).
- 4 cases from Rewa Subdivision (Koronivia, Nasilai Village Nakelo, Davuilevu).
- 1 case from Naitasiri Subdivision (Saumakia Village)
The ministry is reiterating that measles is a highly contagious disease and, therefore, non-essential travel to Saumakia Village in Naitasiri, Serua/Namosi, and Nasilai Village in Nakelo, Rewa, is strongly discouraged.
