Pacific Islands

Samoa's measles death toll rises to 70

December 9, 2019 1:41 pm

The death toll from Samoa’s measles epidemic has reached 70, with two deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

It’s the 13th day the death toll has risen, and 61 of the dead are children aged four years or younger.

Samoa’s government said on Sunday it had vaccinated around 90 percent of the population.

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Still, in the past 24 hours, there were another 112 recorded measles cases, bringing the total to nearly 4700.

Meanwhile, 159 people remain in hospital, including 16 critically ill children.

The measles vaccine can take about two weeks to provide immunity to the disease.