Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The suspected measles case out of Apia is not being taken lightly by the Department of Health.

“If it means we have to close our borders between Samoa and American Samoa, we will make that recommendation for the Governor’s consideration, but we will not take any chances,” said Director of Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua.

During an interview with Samoa News, the director said that contacts have been made to the health officials in Samoa to get “all the required information”.

Earlier this week, Radio Polynesia in Samoa, reported that an 11-month-old baby suspected to have measles had been discharged from the hospital.

Samoa Director General of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma told the radio station the said the infant was discharged two days ago and is “only a suspected case”.

Last month the Ministry of Health called on all parents with children under 5 years of age to ensure that their child has been immunized for measles mumps and rubella — with the MMR vaccination.

Given the recent measles cases in New Zealand and Australia, with unrestricted travel and open borders, Samoa could be at high risk for another measles outbreak.

Motusa told Samoa News what is coming out of Samoa will have a huge factor in actions taken by the Department.

“What is happening in Samoa will dictate our activities here in American Samoa. “As indicated earlier, if the suspected case, comes out to be positive we will definitely look at closing our borders.

“We all know there are measles cases out of New Zealand and Australia and so we have to watch our borders and watch what is coming out of Samoa.

“But then again we only make recommendations from the Health’s point of view but those decisions are approved by the higher up.”

Motusa said as soon as news reached American Samoa of a suspected case, he would think that Health officials in Samoa would give American Samoa a courtesy call.

“As it was in the past, but we had to find out from the media about the suspected measles case. Usually there should be a courtesy call, but we cannot sit around and wait for that call, so we have to reach out to them,” said Motusa.

In 2019 a deadly measles epidemic killed 83 people in Samoa, most of which were children.

Earlier this month Samoa’s Ministry of Health in a statement pointed out that despite ongoing immunizations there are still a significant number of children under five who have not yet completed their scheduled immunizations, especially for MMR mostly from the Apia and Northwest areas.

Also worldwide the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe drops in immunization coverage for many childhood diseases including measles resulting in outbreaks in many parts of the world.

Parents are strongly urged to bring their children to a nearby health facility as soon as possible for measles mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization. Children need 2 doses of the MMR vaccine to be considered protected and should be immunized at the ages of 9 months and 15 months.

The Samoa Ministry points out that COVID-19 is not an excuse to leave the children unprotected and there is a need to get back on track to protect the children through vaccination.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and it can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. 

If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface and then touch their eyes noses or mouths they can become infected. You risk getting measles if you are not vaccinated and have vitamin a deficiency. Getting vaccinated with the MMR vaccine protects you from getting measles mumps and rubella.

According to the health ministry, the symptoms of measles include fever, dry cough, redness or swelling in eyes or eyelids or watery eyes, sensitivity to light, running nose, sneezing, a reddish brown rash that starts from the head and spreads throughout the whole body, feeling of tiredness and body aches and loss of appetite.

Seek medical attention immediately if anyone in your household has these symptoms

Common complications from measles include ear infections, which can lead to hearing loss or permanent deafness, diarrhea, swelling in the brain — which can lead to intellectual disability and pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death due to measles. 

The Samoa ministry of health urges parents to vaccinate their children against measles and ensure that all vaccines are up to date and complete to protect from other diseases.