Gov declares 30-day public health emergency to battle measles outbreak

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an Emergency Declaration dated Apr. 24 and publicly released after 6p.m. Monday, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga declared that a public health emergency exists in American Samoa for “measles” — as the number of probable cases of measles increases to 31, while American Samoa still has only one-laboratory confirmed case.

A Health Department news conference held late Monday morning provided an update on the measles outbreak, with just one-laboratory confirmed case and, at the time, 29 probable cases identified through symptomatic diagnosis and referred for evaluation and confirmation at the nearest health center or through the clinical team.

DoH also says that the governor was expected to issue an emergency declaration on Monday and that the department had recommended restrictions placed on public gatherings and border control measures for inclusion in the declaration.

However, the declaration — effective for 30-days through May 24 — didn’t include DoH’s recommendations, only the major restrictions already in place for schools and daycare centers.

It says that all public or private schools, and American Samoa Community College (ASCC) beginning April 24, 2023 and daycare and childcare facilities beginning April 20, 2023, will be closed for in-person classes and care for three weeks.

Furthermore, schools will utilize online/ distance learning, and all authorities, departments and offices shall support the Department of Education and ASCC to ensure that all students have access to online/distance learning.

During the DoH news conference, health officials reiterated that school, ECE and daycare center closures is intended to help contain the spread of the virus.

According to the declaration, the Health director, “has confirmed that there is an outbreak of Measles in American Samoa, with 1 laboratory confirmed case and 31 suspected/probable cases, including children under 6 months of age who are hospitalized and ineligible for MMR (Measles) vaccines”.

It explains that the measles virus is a highly infectious disease known to spread rapidly from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Additionally, the measles virus is known to result in dangerously high fevers, disability, and serious complications, especially in young children, including pneumonia and encephalitis, potentially leading to death.

And “when an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated child travels to an area where there is a measles outbreak, they are at high risk of contracting and spreading the virus”.

The declaration points out that the current vaccination rates in American Samoa are not sufficient to prevent the spread of the measles virus without further action.

QUARANTINE & ISOLATION

The declaration includes provision for quarantine and isolation. It states that any person who tests positive for measles should be issued a directive to isolate up to twenty-one days.

The Health director, or his designee, is authorized to quarantine a person for up to 21 days without notice, if that person was or may have been exposed to measles.

Quarantine may be at the individual’s home or residence or at a designated quarantine facility. Quarantine for more than 21 days must be authorized by the High Court of American Samoa.

Furthermore, the Health director, or his designee is authorized to isolate a person for up to 21 days without notice “if that person is infected or reasonably believed to be infected with measles”.

And isolation may be at the individual's home or residence or a designated quarantine facility. Isolation for more than 21 days must be authorized by the High Court of American Samoa.

A copy of the Directives for Home Isolation/ Home Quarantine may be provided to law enforcement officers and pulenu'u who are specifically charged with confirming compliance with those directives.

PRICE GOUGING

With the emergency declaration is place, “Price gouging is prohibited”. The Attorney Genera is authorized to request justification from any business deemed to have substantially increased its prices during the emergency declaration period.

ENFORCEMENT

Any person who violates the requirements of this declaration or violates a quarantine or isolation order issued by the Director of Health, or his designee, may be charged.

According to the declaration, DoH shall work with relevant departments and agencies to monitor the outbreak of measles and provide daily updates to the public on the status of the outbreak and the measures being taken to control it.

Click on attachment to download full text of the declaration