The Director General of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma has confirmed two more suspected measles cases in the Country.
However, the initial suspected case he confirmed last week, has been ruled out, after tests have returned from New Zealand confirming that.
Savali reported the Ministry of Health is maintaining its strict surveillance and monitoring duties for a potential outbreak of measles in the wake of alerts from New Zealand and Australia cases resurfacing there.
In the aftermath of the 2019 measles outbreak, which claimed 83 lives and infected over 5,700 residents, mostly young children, the Health Sector has aggressively re-launched vaccination programs and continues to do so.
For now, there are no confirmed cases of measles according to Aiono.
However, the Ministry’s already launched vaccination campaign has coverage rates for Measles Mumps-Rubella (MMR) 1 vaccine at 80 per cent and MMR 2 vaccine at 40 per cent.
These rates he said are far higher than what they were in 2019 but MOH continues to try and reach her targets which include 90 per cent coverage for MMR 1 vaccination and 80 percentage coverage for MMR
Aiono is confident the measles coverage across the country will not have Samoa experience the tragic outcome of the 2019 outbreak.
Aiono claims the Ministry is currently conducting contact tracing to aid in their monitoring work.
