By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Ministry of Health with the Government of Tonga have reported three additional measles cases, bringing the total to 659 confirmed and suspected cases since the outbreak began in early October 2019.

Image/Jim Goodson, M.P.H.

All reported cases were from the island of Tongatapu. Of the three new cases, one case is in an infant aged 6 months (male) whose mother was a suspect case in the previous epidemiological week. The infant is currently hospitalized and is stable

Of the 659 cases, 581 (88.1%) cases occurred on Tongatapu and 66 (10.1 %) occurred on Vava’u Island. The most recent case was on Feb. 7.

To date, 21 hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.

Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) for measles have been underway since 10 Oct 2019, in
conjunction with continued routine childhood vaccination.

A total of 44 605 doses of measles containing vaccines were administered across the target age groups (6-11 months, 1-9 years, 10-24 years and ≥24 years) between October 2019 and January 2020.

Additional school based vaccination campaigns to target children aged 1-9 years and 10-17 years are being conducted to catch up any missed persons.