Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete says so far they have been successful in ensuring the measles outbreak in New Zealand, does not wreak havoc on our Island nation.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization are urging the public to ensure they are immunized.

This is in light of the recent outbreaks of measles in the Pacific, and as the holiday season nears.

In a statement it stresses that people should be immunized before travelling internationally and strongly encourages parents to vaccinate their children against this serious disease.

It adds that vaccination provides the safest and best protection against measles.

In response to the recent outbreaks, UNICEF and WHO are continuing to provide strong support and resources to assist Pacific Island countries in preparing for and responding to the threat of measles, including the provision of 89,000 vaccines that will help to protect at-risk populations.

Meanwhile, with the measles outbreak in New Zealand now slowly spreading across the Pacific region, Fiji’s Health Ministry is doubling its effort to prevent the disease from entering the country.

Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete says so far they have been successful in ensuring the measles outbreak in New Zealand, does not wreak havoc on our Island nation.