Marshall Islands ramps up measles prevention

With measles spreading throughout the Pacific region, the Marshall Islands has stepped up its prevention campaign this week.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is now requiring travellers to and from the Marshall Islands to have an updated measles vaccine.

Its outreach measles immunisation campaign for young children, started two months ago, ramped up this past week with special vaccine clinics being provided in rural communities on Majuro.

In addition the Ministry of Health is battling ongoing outbreaks of dengue fever and influenza, which have left Majuro hospital's emergency room, outpatient clinic and inpatient wards overloaded.

This week's new travel advisory is now being enforced by United Airlines and Nauru Airlines, the two carriers serving the country.

The international travel advisory requires that, two weeks prior to travel:

All infants of Marshallese citizens and foreign residents aged six-to-11 months who are travelling internationally must be vaccinated against measles.

Marshall Islands citizens and foreign residents - children 12 months of age up to adults born after 1957 - must be up-to-date with a measles vaccine.

Health Secretary Jack Niedenthal said the Marshall Islands' best defence against measles was ensuring high vaccine coverage.

Meanwhile, in French Polynesia, health authorities have advised the public to check that their vaccination against measles is up to date.

In the face of measles outbreaks in New Zealand and Samoa, they say there is a possibility that the virus could be brought into the territory.

They say people should ensure they have had their booster shots as they guarantee almost 100 percent protection.

There was plenty of vaccine stocked.

Vaccination against measles has been mandatory in French Polynesia since 1987, but the health authorities say there might be individuals who are not fully protected.

The last measles case was reported in 2001.