No new measles deaths in Samoa

Samoa's Ministry of Health says the death toll from the measles epidemic in the country remains at 81 with no fatalities in the last 24 hours.

There are 46 measles cases in hospital, nine of that number are critically ill children; another critical patient is a pregnant woman.

• This story first published by RNZ

It said twenty-one measles cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The Ministry confirms that 5,655 measles cases have been reported to the Disease Surveillance Team, since the outbreak started.

The total number of measles cases admitted to all hospitals recorded for the outbreak to date is 1,844. Of that, 1,717 patients have been discharged.

The Ministry said as of December 27, 2019, approximately 95% of all eligible people in Samoa have been vaccinated against measles.

• See also: Congo measles deaths reach 5700