The Serua/Namosi measles outbreak declared on November 7 2019 has ended.

Twelve cases of measles were reported from Serua/Namosi during the outbreak.  No new cases have been reported since the end of November, and more than 42 days (two incubation periods) have passed since the last case.

The outbreak in Serua/Namosi was brought to an end in less than a month from the time it was declared through the massive response efforts of the Serua/Namosi Sub-divisional Health Team, which included the vaccination of 96 per cent of the subdivision’s population.       The people of Serua/Namosi are also to be commended for heeding the Ministry’s advice and coming forward to be vaccinated.

Case update

The measles outbreak remains ongoing for the rest of the Central Division. However, weekly reported cases have decreased and there have been no new cases reported since the last update on January 9th.

The respective sub-divisional outbreak response teams will continue to respond to new cases as they arise.

The case count remain at 28, and all cases are from the following areas in the Central Division:

• twelve cases from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision (Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi, and Makosoi Deuba)
• nine cases from the Suva Subdivision (Toorak, Nabua, Samabula, Vatuwaqa, Sakoca in Tacirua, Wailekutu and Naikorokoro Village in Lami).
• three cases from Rewa Subdivision (Koronivia, Nasilai Village Nakelo, Davuilevu).
• four cases from Naitasiri Subdivision (Saumakia Village)

The three-month-old baby reported in previous updates has now been discharged from the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.

All cases to date have recovered, and there are no measles patients currently admitted in hospital. There have been no deaths.

The public are urged to continue to take the following precautions:

• If you or a loved one are in a measles vaccination target group and have not been vaccinated during this campaign please do get vaccinated now.
• Avoid non-essential travel to the outbreak areas of Sakoca in Tacirua, Naikorokoro Village in Lami, Saumakia Village in Naitasiri, Nasilai Village in Nakelo.
• If you are holding an event or gathering with international visitors, or participants from an outbreak area, please strongly encourage them to get vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before travel.

This especially applies to visitors traveling from other countries with measles outbreaks i.e. New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, American Samoa, Kiribati, and Papua New Guinea.

Measles in Fiji

Because we have an effective immunization program, measles is rare in Fiji.

However, outbreaks around the world, including in neighboring countries, still puts Fiji at risk of having cases of measles.

Feedback: rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj