Measles-hit Samoa on lockdown
The Pacific island nation of Samoa is on a virtual lockdown as authorities struggle to curb a measles epidemic which has already claimed more than 60 lives.
Most of the deaths were young children and household have been ordered to fly red flags outside their homes if they are unvaccinated.
At least 4,200 have been infected in the past few weeks.
Public services are virtually non-existent and roads are deserted as the public have been advised to stay indoors.
Interisland ferry services are cancelled and all residents who need to travel must get special permission
Medical teams are going door-to-door to provide vaccinations.
The government said the lockdown will last for at least two days as it administers shots to as many people as possible.
The scale of the mass vaccination drive is unprecedented, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said.
Capital Apia, normally bustling with tourists and cruise visitors currently resembles a ghost town.
It’s very, very quiet out here. I can just hear a few barking dogs. The streets are empty. There are no cars," UNICEF’s Pacific islands chief Sheldon Yett told AFP.
"People are staying at home waiting for the vaccination. I’ve seen mass mobilisation campaigns before, but not over an entire country like this," Yett said.
Prior to the outbreak the rate of vaccinations was only about 30% of the population, partly due to the influence of anti-vaxxers on social media.
Samoan authorities believe the outbreak was caused by an infected tourist from New Zealand.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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