Casey, Sean T; Mamea-Maa, Natasha A; Nofoaiga, Matilda; Martin, Bronte; Henshall, Kevin A; Fidow, Melissa; Devanath, Durgavasini; Hansell, Lepaitai B; Fatupaito, Glen

Author(s)

Casey, Sean T

Mamea-Maa, Natasha A

Nofoaiga, Matilda

Martin, Bronte

Henshall, Kevin A

Fidow, Melissa

Devanath, Durgavasini

Hansell, Lepaitai B

Fatupaito, Glen

Publication Date

2024-04-26

Abstract

On 15 November 2019, Samoa's Government declared a state of emergency in response to a rapidly worsening measles outbreak. The outbreak overwhelmed Samoa's health system, necessitating international assistance, including from emergency medical teams (EMTs).Measles spread globally throughout 2019, with cases rising by more than 300% in the first quarter of 2019, as compared with 2018. Given Samoa's low immunization coverage with a measles-containing vaccine at the time, at 40% for the first dose and 28% for the second, the country was soon overwhelmed with measles cases, hospitalizations and deaths.Following a request for international assistance, 18 EMTs from around the world deployed to Samoa, bringing more than 550 additional clinical, public health and logistics personnel to the country's measles response. Working alongside Samoan health workers, EMTs provided critical surge assistance in clinical management, vaccination, surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and mental health and psychosocial support.A total of 1867 hospitalized measles patients were treated from 30 September 2019 to 13 January 2020, with 83 measles-related deaths recorded. EMTs provided essential surge support across Samoa's health system during the most acute phase of the response, helping to care for the ill and control the outbreak.Samoa's measles response triggered a large-scale and unique EMT activation, with teams integrated into Samoa's hospitals and health centres. The response demonstrated the critical role that EMTs can play in outbreak response and the importance of strong coordination to ensure optimal use of international clinical surge support by a health system in crisis.

Affiliation

World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines.

School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Ministry of Health, Apia, Samoa.

Australian Medical Assistance Team, National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

New Zealand Medical Assistance Team, Wellington, New Zealand.

World Health Organization Division of Pacific Technical Support, Suva, Fiji.

World Health Organization Representative Office for Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, Apia, Samoa.

Ministry of Health, Apia, Samoa.

Citation

Western Pac Surveill Response J . 2024 Apr 26;14(6 Spec edition):1-7. doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1031. eCollection 2023.

ISSN

2094-7313

Pubmed ID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38745981/?otool=iaurydwlib

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/13342

MESH subject

Humans

Measles

Disease Outbreaks

Samoa

Emergency Medical Services

Child

Title

The roles of emergency medical teams in response to Samoa's 2019 measles outbreak.

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

NT Health Research and Publications Online

The roles of emergency medical teams in response to Samoa's 2019 measles outbreak.

Files:

Author(s)	Casey, Sean T Mamea-Maa, Natasha A Nofoaiga, Matilda Martin, Bronte Henshall, Kevin A Fidow, Melissa Devanath, Durgavasini Hansell, Lepaitai B Fatupaito, Glen
Publication Date	2024-04-26
Abstract	On 15 November 2019, Samoa's Government declared a state of emergency in response to a rapidly worsening measles outbreak. The outbreak overwhelmed Samoa's health system, necessitating international assistance, including from emergency medical teams (EMTs).Measles spread globally throughout 2019, with cases rising by more than 300% in the first quarter of 2019, as compared with 2018. Given Samoa's low immunization coverage with a measles-containing vaccine at the time, at 40% for the first dose and 28% for the second, the country was soon overwhelmed with measles cases, hospitalizations and deaths.Following a request for international assistance, 18 EMTs from around the world deployed to Samoa, bringing more than 550 additional clinical, public health and logistics personnel to the country's measles response. Working alongside Samoan health workers, EMTs provided critical surge assistance in clinical management, vaccination, surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and mental health and psychosocial support.A total of 1867 hospitalized measles patients were treated from 30 September 2019 to 13 January 2020, with 83 measles-related deaths recorded. EMTs provided essential surge support across Samoa's health system during the most acute phase of the response, helping to care for the ill and control the outbreak.Samoa's measles response triggered a large-scale and unique EMT activation, with teams integrated into Samoa's hospitals and health centres. The response demonstrated the critical role that EMTs can play in outbreak response and the importance of strong coordination to ensure optimal use of international clinical surge support by a health system in crisis.
Affiliation	World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines. School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ministry of Health, Apia, Samoa. Ministry of Health, Apia, Samoa. Australian Medical Assistance Team, National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. New Zealand Medical Assistance Team, Wellington, New Zealand. World Health Organization Division of Pacific Technical Support, Suva, Fiji. World Health Organization Division of Pacific Technical Support, Suva, Fiji. World Health Organization Representative Office for Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, Apia, Samoa. Ministry of Health, Apia, Samoa.
Citation	Western Pac Surveill Response J . 2024 Apr 26;14(6 Spec edition):1-7. doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1031. eCollection 2023.
ISSN	2094-7313
Pubmed ID	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38745981/?otool=iaurydwlib
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/10137/13342
MESH subject	Humans Measles Disease Outbreaks Samoa Emergency Medical Services Child
Title	The roles of emergency medical teams in response to Samoa's 2019 measles outbreak.
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication