Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa now has two-laboratory confirmed measles cases and 49 probable cases, according to the latest data by Health Department released late Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, all children 12 months and older are now eligible for 2 MMR doses.

And the second confirmed measles case is a 4-year old boy from Tafuna who attends the same school — Kanana Fou Elementary — as the first confirmed laboratory case.

According to health officials during a DoH news conference Wednesday afternoon, the latest case was confirmed from the samples sent to Honolulu on Monday night and the results were received that morning — Wednesday.

DoH said the 49 probable cases were identified through symptomatic diagnosis referred for evaluation and confirmation at the health center. The age range is 2-months to 13-years old; with 51% males while 49% are female.

The total shown in the village distribution of probable cases includes 6 cases, which DoH has now declared inactive because they are outside the infection period.

DoH also provided the latest total coverage of MMR vaccines among schools in American Samoa — both public and private — through the DoH Immunization Program. As of Apr. 25, a total of 91.1% have completed the two doses.

DoH is pushing for the percentage to increase as it continues the “mass vaccination” campaign at designated sites island-wide. Call DoH command post at 219 for the sites for today or get the information on the DoH Facebook page.

“Because of the current Measles outbreak, all babies 6 through 11 months are required to be vaccinated. All children 12 months and older are now eligible for 2 MMR doses,” said the DoH advisory.

“If you were told last week before the outbreak to go home and come back when your child turns 4 years old, please bring them back to get their second dose.” Your child — ages 1 through 3 — is now qualified for two doses, the advisory says