9 Sep 2017

Measles immunisation drive begins in Fiji

7:16 pm on 9 September 2017

More than 230,000 children under the age of ten will be vaccinated against measles and rubella in the next three weeks.

The Ministry of Health's Dr Torika Tamani says children in the target age group should be vaccinated regardless of their prior immunisation status.

According to the ministry, there have been pockets of measles outbreaks in Fiji and rubella is the leading infectious disease cause of birth defects.

The last measles outbreak was in 2006, when 5,700 children were infected and 12 died.

The symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rashes.