At least 15 children have died from measles or its complications.

Two independent sources have confirmed to the Samoa Observer that 15 children and one adult have died from measles related complications, in either the intensive care unit or the emergency department of the hospital.

At least two victims died at home; the five-year-old daughter of the only adult so far lost to the measles epidemic, and the twin brother of Tamara Tuivale, Sale Tuivale who died on Saturday.

The most recent official communications from the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) stated just six people have died from measles-related-death: five under two-year-olds and the 37-year-old. 

But in response to questions on the much larger number of 14 children (and one adult), the National Emergency Coordination Centre confirmed the total measles-related deaths are 15 deaths on Monday evening (the figure does not include Sale Tuivale).

Of the deaths, two were prematurely born babies, one to a mother who had the clinical symptoms of measles.

Speaking to media last week, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri. confirmed a pregnancy had been lost, but denied that the mother was a confirmed case measles, only suspected.

“Unless we find out, unless it is confirmed, then I can say it’s measles, but if it is suspected, it is suspected measles. But it is a stillbirth,” Leausa said.

University of Auckland Vaccinologist, Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, estimates that the measles mortality rate is on average two per 100 cases of measles, almost to the letter of deaths occurred so far. 

Her estimate is based on Samoa’s poor vaccine coverage rates, socioeconomic status and child health statistics.

“Samoa are a lower-middle-income setting and do not have heath care that is either comparable or as accessible as in New Zealand,” Dr. Petousis-Harris told the Science Media Centre.

“Second, children in Samoa are more likely to suffer malnutrition or die in early childhood than children in New Zealand. 

“In Samoa about 18 per 1000 children die before five-years where as in New Zealand this is about six.”

She said on top of all this, the true burden of measles is likely higher than reported figures, simply because not all infected people will report to the healthcare system. 

Dr. Petousis-Harris’ estimate for measles mortality in Samoa comes from the data about Samoa’s children, healthcare and immunisation coverage.

“Samoa [has] one of the poorest uptakes of measles vaccine in the world, more in line with some of the most devastated countries in Africa,” she said.

“Samoa’s immunisation coverage has trended down for almost 20 years leaving a large proportion of the population susceptible to diseases such as measles. 

“The estimate for 2018 were 31 per cent by WHO-UNICEF, and 40 per cent from local administrative data. Whichever you believe, it is dismal.”