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.
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.
Latest update: 4,693 measles cases have been reported since the outbreak with 112 recorded in the last 24 hours. To date, 70 measles related deaths have been recorded.
VACCINATION UPDATE: As of 8 Dec, 90% of population have been vaccinated (graphic attached). pic.twitter.com/kCmB5aZXVt
— Government of Samoa (@samoagovt) December 8, 2019
The government ordered a shutdown of the nation on Thursday and Friday to try to cope with the epidemic.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said more than 20,000 vaccines were administered over the space of the two-day lockdown designed to stem the tide of the deadly measles epidemic, with vaccination teams visiting households to administer shots.
