As measles cases continue to be reported in the Pacific, the Pacific Community (SPC) continues to closely monitor the situation and produces a weekly map showing measles and other epidemic and emerging diseases circulating in the region.
As of 13 January 2020, Pacific countries with documented measles virus circulation and alerts on the map are: American Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Australia (Queensland).
The map can be accessed online at: www.spc.int/phd/epidemics
The weekly maps are sent to all public health surveillance focal points from the Pacific Island countries and territories in English and French through PacNet, the alert and communication service of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN).
SPC assists with the translation (English/French) and dissemination of measles advices and recommendations produced by/or in collaboration with PPHSN partners, i.e. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, to ensure that all Pacific Island countries and territories have access to necessary advices in a timely manner.
In addition, SPC dispatched medical supplies and equipment to Samoa in November 2019 and facilitated travel of two nurses from Solomon Islands and two from Kiribati, from 10th to 22nd December 2019, to support Samoa measles vaccination campaigns.
SPC continues to support Pacific Island countries and territories with risk communication in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF.
Contact:
Evlyn Mani, Communications Officer, Public Health Division, Pacific Community (SPC) | [email protected]
