While the current measles outbreak in Samoa has already claimed 62 lives, no-one has died from measles in New Zealand this year – but that has nothing to do with the disease itself. By Thursday morning, 4217 measles cases had been reported to the disease surveillance team in Samoa, including 165 in the previous 24 hours. New Zealand Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner said there is no difference between measles in Samoa and the disease in New Zealand. New Zealand Red Cross Nelson nurse practitioner Andrea Chapman is in Samoa, working with local healthcare professionals and volunteers to help contain the measles epidemic. Among the helping hands are 54 New Zealand medical professionals, including an 18-person New Zealand Medical Assistance Team, 12 nurse vaccinators, six New Zealand Red Cross nurses, eight ICU specialists and 10 Samoan-speaking doctors and nurses.

Source: Stuff December 05, 2019 02:03 UTC