22 Aug 2014

Samoa sprays airports to stop chikungunya.

3:20 pm on 22 August 2014

Samoa is spraying its airports ahead of the Small Island Developing States conference to fight the spread of chikungunya.

At least 50 people are suspected to have contracted the mosquito-borne disease while more than 500 cases have been reported in American Samoa.

Our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says the airports are being sprayed as part of a mass clean-up campaign to contain the disease before the conference in September.

"Airports and walks need to be sprayed just to make sure the breeding areas for mosquitos are being cleared. As long as we all work together and continue on cleaning up all these breeding areas we should be able to have a low number of people being affected with chikungunya."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says the conference is the main reason for the clean-up and school principals, the police and government ministries are all involved.