14 Aug 2003

Marshall Islands halts transport to fight measles

4:33 pm on 14 August 2003

The Marshall Islands government has halted almost all transport to the outer islands to stop the spread of measles.

Flights and ship travel has been restricted to contain the disease after the health ministry confirmed another 87 cases yesterday.

From Majuro, Giff Johnson reports:

"They've gone so far as to actually stop government ships and the national airline from going to the outer islands where about a third of the population lives, and in fact the ministry of health has charted all the flights to the outer islands to send public health teams out to do immunisations since last week Friday"