Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Travelers entering Tutuila from the independent state of Samoa can expect to be screened at the ports of entry, until the measles epidemic in Samoa dies down. And despite rumors that there have been confirmed cases of measles found in the territory, a Dept. of Health official told Samoa News yesterday morning that this is not true.

DOH surveillance teams have been stationed at the airport and the inter island dock in an effort to prevent the highly contagious disease from entering American Samoa. Late last week, the Lady Naomi brought in close to 200 people, most of whom are athletes taking part in the Moso’oi Festival.

According to some of the Samoa athletes who are camping out on the east side, screenings for measles were carried out for them, and they were told that they would be monitored for symptoms.

Meanwhile in Samoa, three people - two babies and an adult - are suspected to have died from measles over the past few days. The government has ordered the closure of all preschools and daycare centers until further notice. It is also considering closing ALL SCHOOLS.

In its latest advisory issued Wednesday, the Samoa Health Ministry reported 15 confirmed cases in Samoa, and 314 suspected cases - most of whom are under the age of four. The three people suspected to have died from the disease include an eight-month-old, a 14-month old, and a 37-year-old.

Measles vaccination centers have been set up in both Upolu and Savai’i. Locally, DOH teams are visiting schools, to administer the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) shots. Since the news of the measles outbreak made headlines, parents have been rushing to the local community health centers to get their kids vaccinated.

A measles epidemic was declared in Samoa earlier this month, after it was spread from New Zealand where there is an outbreak in the Auckland area.

The measles epidemic in Samoa has infuriated Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, an immunologist and vaccine specialist at Auckland University.

Petousis-Harris told RNZI that given New Zealand's responsibility for the 1918 flu epidemic reaching Samoa and wiping out 22 percent of the population, the country should have done more to protect Samoa from this outbreak. "I feel deeply ashamed and incredibly angry that this has happened because it was absolutely predictable," she said. "It was inevitable that we would export this to Samoa. The situation in Samoa is well known that they have very low levels of immunity there."

Measles is the most contagious disease known to man and in an unimmunised population the infection spreads rapidly, she added. "A singe case can infect on average a further 12 to 18 others. So it virtually explodes. And the only way to prevent that is to have at least 95 percent of your population immune to stop it from spreading." 

DOH has issued a ‘travel warning’ for locals planning to fly to Samoa or New Zealand. Prior to departure, all travelers are urged to get two doses of the MMR (free at all DOH community health centers), and it is highly advised that children under 5 years old who have not been immunized, not travel to places that have a measles outbreak.

Any traveler who feels unwell within three weeks of returning to American Samoa, is advised to call DOH at 622-5871 if they have the following symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash.

ABOUT MEASLES

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10-12 days after exposure to an infected person and can last 7-10 days.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. For some kids, measles can lead to pneumonia (a serious lung infection); lifelong brain damage; deafness; and death.

Measles spreads when a person infected with the measles virus breathes, coughs, or sneezes. A person can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been - up to 2 hours after that person is gone.