Samoa has ended their 6-week state of emergency after a measles outbreak in the South Pacific nation has come under control.
According to reports, the infectious disease has killed 81 people and sickened more than 5,600 others. Babies and children were the most that perished under the infection.
In a statement, government officials said that the emergency orders that were placed last month to contain the virus, such as closing schools and restricting travel, had ended.
Measles cases are on the rise globally, and it is not only the developing countries facing the consequences. Wealthy countries such as the US and Germany are also having to find solutions against the anti-vaccination campaign, that claims a relationship between vaccination and autism.
Samoa were able to contain their infection rates after a nation-wide vaccine drive, that pushed immunization rates towards 95%. At this level, aid agencies say that “herd immunity” will be effective to protect the population.
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