4 Apr 2014

Pink eye closes public schools in American Samoa

2:54 pm on 4 April 2014

Public schools will be closed for three days in American Samoa in an effort to contain the spread of pink eye disease.

The Education Director Vaitinasa Dr Salu Hunkin Finau says the closure starts tomorrow, and schools will re-open next Wednesday.

Our correspondent Monica Miller says the disease seems to be affecting children at a greater rate than the rest of the population and about 20 percent of school students have been affected.

"Although they've asked the students and parents to have their children stay home it seems there's a lot of students are still coming in and they want to see if they can contain it by having everybody stay at home."

Monica Miller says about 15 percent of teachers are on sick leave due to the disease.