12 Jun 2015

Rise in American Samoa chickenpox cases

7:56 am on 12 June 2015

The infection control officer at American Samoa's only hospital says there has been an increase in the number of chickenpox cases in the territory.

LBJ hospital, American Samoa

LBJ hospital, American Samoa Photo: RNZI

Charmain Mageo has told Samoa News cases are mainly affecting children and the LBJ hospital is only treating for symptoms of the illness as it does not have a vaccine.

She says health officials have met to discuss the possibility of importing the vaccine from the United States.