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Samoa Shuts Down in Unprecedented Battle Against Measles
Samoa shuts down in unprecedented battle against measles
Samoa began a two-day shutdown on Thursday as authorities embarked on an unprecedented mass vaccination campaign to contain a deadly outbreak of measles that has killed 62 people, mostly small children, in the Pacific island nation.
Officials suspended non-essential government services to allow civil servants to support the vaccination drive, and ordered all businesses to close. Inter-island ferry services were also cancelled.
"No one is being permitted to drive unless they are going to hospital or they have special permission," Al Jazeera's Jessica Washington said from the capital, Apia. Behind her wide streets were all but empty of people and cars.
"The ban is to make it as simple as possible for the medical teams to travel throughout Samoa and access as many families as possible."
Red Flags To Mark Homes Of Unvaccinated In Samoa, Officials Say
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
People who have not been vaccinated against the measles virus should mark their homes with red flags, Samoan officials announced Tuesday.
The outbreak has flourished after the vaccination rate of infants plunged to an estimated 31 percent last year. Health officials linked the drop in vaccination to the tragic deaths of two infants, who were given measles vaccines tainted with fatal doses of muscle relaxant. Two nurses were convicted in the cases and sentenced to five years in prison. Despite the convictions, anti-vaccine advocates have used the cases to drum up fear of vaccines.
As the outbreak took off last month, the Samoan government declared a state of emergency. It has closed schools, banned children from public gatherings, and begun a mass vaccination campaign. Samoa has since vaccinated over 58,000 people.
NB: The population of Samoa is just under 200,000 people.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Snotnose on Thursday December 05 2019, @11:32PM (6 children)
A couple days ago I saw a headline on a site I follow (think Fark) that said unvaccinated Samoans should wear a red flag so people know to avoid them.
I actually agree with that, and would extend it much further. If you aren't vaccinated, or your kids aren't vaccinated, then you are a health problem and right thinking people like myself should be warned of your approach.
Ooops, did I say unvaccinated? I meant sex offenders. My bad, he was just a felon. He got acquitted? My bad, we should just apply it to $PoliticalParty.
I came. I saw. I forgot why I came.
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 06 2019, @12:06AM (3 children)
In the US, we make infected stupid people wear red hats, not flags, and the have the letters M-A-G-A, for Maybe Always Got it Again. We stay far away from such people, mostly to avoid the spittle and ticks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 06 2019, @12:51AM (2 children)
Who is this 'we'? Do you have a hamster in your pocket?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 06 2019, @01:00AM (1 child)
That's a Norwegian rat.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday December 06 2019, @07:59AM
No, it's really a hamster, Siberian strain.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 06 2019, @12:59AM (1 child)
Alt-righter spotted!!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 06 2019, @09:08AM
Rummyway1956, he's the Typhoid Mary of Fox News, Brietbarf, and OANN (of the sin of onan, wankers!). He usually wears the Red Cap of Quarantine, avoid if at all possible. Oh, and beware the spittle. Is he is going on about Clintons or SJWs, the unsafe zone is within 25 yards. Handle with extreme caution. May have arms.