National Measles Response and Recovery Appeal

The Samoa Measles Appeal is being launched by the Government of Samoa to receive financial assistance from partners to support national efforts to contain the outbreak, to effectively treat people who contracted measles, and to achieve herd immunity for long term protection of the population.  Another important aspect is preventing regional migration, meaning that if the outbreak spreads, the disease has the potential to impact surrounding countries. 

The measles outbreak has resulted in a significant disruption of the Samoan health system with an ongoing rise in incidence and requirement for quarantine of infected persons. This has led to increased burden on health care workers and restricted access to essential medicines and care for communicable and non-communicable diseases especially for pregnant and lactating women.