Transcript
Tonga's government this week officially declared a measles outbreak
Its Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Reynold Ofanoa said the kingdom had 68 confirmed cases as of Wednesday.
He said contact tracing revealed the spread has come directly from New Zealand.
"Majority of the cases that we had initially were members of a national rugby team. Players who visited New Zealand from our schools to play some games during the month of September. And then the first case contracted the disease while in New Zealand."
Dr Ofanoa says Tonga is fortunate to have previously achieved herd immunity to measles with over 95 percent vaccination rates - he's confident this will lessen the severity of measles for Tongans.
But he urges the public to check immunisation status and get jabs prior to travel.
Meanwhile in Samoa the government is issued a release this week.
"To date we've been notified of 169 suspected measles cases since September with 153 in Upolu and 16 reported from Savaii. Of the total seven have been confirmed for measles last week . In addition, we have 83 specimen results pending. And one suspected measles related death.
"Thirty percent of all cases were admitted to hospital, with most patients recovering. But two adults and five children are still in Apia's hospital. We've had no admissions reported from Savaii's Hospital."
Speaking from Apia after the suspected measles-related death of the toddler last week, the Deputy Director General of Public Health, Dr Robert Thomsen, called on New Zealand to step up.
"If the outbreak in New Zealand is not under control anytime soon, then we will still continue to see a prolong with the measles outbreak here. Because now with, because of the travelling public, so many Samoans coming from there to here, and so many going from here to there."
Pressure on New Zealand government to help its Pacific neighbours address the growing viral outbreaks was also underscored by NZ Opposition Associate Health Spokesperson, Dr Shane Reti
"If it came from a New Zealand outbreak, I think we have some responsibility to them. And we should be collaborating and helping as much as we can. It's a consequence of a government that removed health targets.
"It's a consequence of a government that missed multiple warning signs that we were due for an outbreak. And here we are today with nearly 1800 cases of measles and now we're exporting it as well. It's simply not good enough."
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade responded saying the government has reached out to Samoan officials offering advice and practical assistance.
A spokesperson says the government has been working with UNICEF across Pacific Island countries to ensure the availability of vaccines, while a group of New Zealand nurses have been in Samoa delivering training
RNZ asked New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters how concerned he is about measles spreading into the Pacific region.
WP: Look we are very concerned about it. Of course we're very keen to help out, whether it be Samoa or Tonga.
RNZ: So should more have been done to ensure that people vaccinate? They're only at about 30 percent, they had children dying, should more have been done?
WP: I'm not going to criticise Samoa. But you realise two people died last year and they suspended the immunisation programmes, back then.
RNZ: So this is on them?
WP: Well, there's no use pointing at the people that are dead ...to start pointing the finger. We stand ready to help, if they want us to.
Meanwhile, across New Zealand so far 2019 has seen 1928 confirmed cases of measles notified and 1554 of these people are in the Auckland region.
The Ministry has moved to vaccinate more babies, boosting herd immunity, and advises parents of babies aged 6-11 months living outside Auckland, should talk to their GP about vaccinating at least two weeks before travelling to Auckland.
