25 May 2014

Fear of measles in Marshalls Islands

1:41 pm on 25 May 2014

Health authorities in the Marshall Islands are concerned about an outbreak of measles in Kosrae, an island state in neighbouring Federated States of Micronesia.

The Secretary of Health, Julia Alfred, has issued a warning for the public to be aware that measles is in the region.

The Federated States of Micronesia Director of Health Services, Livinson Taulung, has issued a notice to regional health authorities confirming that two of three suspected cases have been confirmed as measles.

Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands

Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands Photo: RNZ

All are male infants under one year of age in Kosrae.

Kosrae has a population of about 8,000 people and is one of four of the FSM states.

The island is linked to Majuro in the Marshall Islands by the so-called island hopper service from Honolulu to Guam.