13 Dec 2018

American Samoa puts out meningococcal alert

9:34 am on 13 December 2018

American Samoa's Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children have been immunised against meningococcal disease.

No caption

Photo: Andrey Popov 123RF

This follows the recent discovery of cases in Samoa.

The Department of Health's Saipale Fuimaono said early diagnosis is critical and is urging parents unsure about their child's immunisation to check in at health centres.

Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and mental confusion.

The American Samoa Immunization Program provides the meningococcal vaccines free of charge.