Better immunisation coverage needed to prevent Pacific measles outbreak - WHO

EJ, left, and Aso sit at the grave of their 9-month old cousin Taugata Launiu who died of measles in 2019 in Samoa. Photo / Mike Scott

Surveillance and better vaccine coverage is needed to prevent another measles outbreak in the Pacific, says the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific regional director.

Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala said many children missed out on routine vaccinations - including measles and rubella - during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to WHO, measles cases jumped by 225 per cent - from just over 1400 cases in 2022 to more than 5000 last year - in the Western Pacific region.

A statement from the organisation said the recent increase has been caused by gaps in vaccination coverage and disease surveillance, as well as people travelling from countries with outbreaks.

The measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccine administered during childhood is considered the best defence to reduce future outbreaks. Photo / Government of Samoa

“I think the health workforce [was] concentrating on Covid-19 vaccinations and forgot about routine vaccinations - not only for measles, but other routine immunisation schedule,” Piukala told RNZ Pacific.

“People are going back to fill the gaps.”

From 2022 to 2023, 11 countries in the Western Pacific including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Papua New Guinea conducted nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaigns.

Samoa’s 2019 measles outbreak

Piukala said the catch-up campaigns have been successful.

“That will definitely reduce the risk. No child should get sick or die of measles.”

In 2019 Samoa had an outbreak that killed 83 people - mostly children - off the back of an outbreak in Auckland.

Piukala said the deaths made people understand the importance of measles and rubella vaccinations for their children.

Fiji, Guam, French Polynesia and New Caledonia are the only countries that have local testing capacity for measles, with most nations sending samples to Melbourne for testing.

Piukala said WHO plans for Samoa, the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands to have testing capacity by 2025.

“The PCR machines that were made available in Pacific Island countries during the Covid pandemic can also be used to detect other respiratory viruses, including the flu, LSV, and measles and rubella.”