The American Samoa Department of Health has issued an advisory to local residents concerning an outbreak of Rubella or German Measles in Samoa, Tonga and Niue.
The department is encouraging parents to check if their children have received the Rubella vaccination and if not to take them to the nearest health centre for shots.
The Department is also advising those who are planning to travel to Samoa or other Pacific Islands, to make sure that they and their family members have received MMR vaccinations.
Rubella can be very serious for pregnant mothers, and can affect the unborn child who will be susceptible to blindness, deafness, brain damage, heart problems and other serious conditions.
