Whooping Cough Cases Surge Past 100 in Samoa
whooping Cough cases Surge in Samoa Ahead of Holiday Season
Apia, Samoa – As the Christmas season approaches, Samoa is facing a concerning rise in whooping cough cases, with over 100 suspected and confirmed infections reported as September.
Health Director General Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma revealed that 14 cases have been officially confirmed, while an additional 95 are suspected. Alarmingly,over half of these cases have required hospitalization,highlighting the severity of the outbreak. Infants under one year old make up a significant 45% of the cases, underscoring the vulnerability of young children.
“we are urging all travelers planning to visit Samoa to check their vaccination status and get vaccinated before arriving, especially the elderly,” Dr. Ekeroma emphasized. He noted the absence of adult vaccines in Samoa, adding, ”Efforts are underway to procure these vaccines, but it comes at a substantial cost.”
While Samoa boasts high vaccination coverage for infants,with 100% receiving their first dose by six weeks old,Dr. Ekeroma believes the recent outbreak likely originated from New Zealand.
