By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In an update on the measles outbreak in Fiji, the health ministry has reported an additional confirmed case, bringing the total to 15. The latest confirmed case is a 38 year old from Nasilai Village in Nakelo – Rewa Subdivision. The Rewa Subdivisional Outbreak Response Team is rapidly responding to notification of this latest case. The response includes isolation of the case, and quarantine and vaccination of contacts and the at risk community as appropriate.

This was a patient who presented with Koplik’s spots on palate due to pre-eruptive measles on day 3 of the illness./CDC

The 15 cases to date are from the following areas:

• 11 cases from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision (Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi, and Makosoi Deuba)
• 2 cases from Suva (Samabula and Vatuwaqa) Subdivision
• 2 cases from Rewa (Koronivia, Nasilai Village Nakelo) Subdivision.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is conducting an immunisation campaign targeting people who may not be fully immunized and are most at risk of measles infection. Already close to 100,000 people around the country have been vaccinated in phase one of the campaign. This includes over 20,000 people in the outbreak area of Serua/Namosi.

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The second phase of this immunization campaign will begin Wednesday 4th December.
Across Fiji it will target people in the groups listed below:

1) Any child in Fiji who has not received 2 doses of a measles vaccine as per the national immunization schedule
2) Any child in Fiji aged 12 and 18 months who is due their routine measles vaccine as per the national immunization schedule
3) Any person in Fiji travelling overseas, however evidence of travel must be provided i.e. travel itinerary or ticket
4) All health care workers in Fiji
5) All airport and hotel staff

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In Central Division only, the campaign will also target:
1) All children aged 6 months to 5 years
2) All people born between 1980 and 2000 (19 to 39 year olds).
3) All residents of Serua/Namosi aged 6 months and older.

Pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, and those with a known allergy to the vaccine should not be vaccinated.
Central Division is prioritized for this phase of the campaign as all confirmed cases to date are in this division, and the focus remains on containing the current outbreak. A batch of 200,000 vaccines has arrived in the country and will be distributed in time to commence the campaign. The majority of these vaccines will be targeted for Central Division for the reasons detailed above. The other divisions will be targeted once more vaccine supplies, which are currently on order, are received.