Transcript
It's an epidemic that's becoming worse by the day.
On Tuesday, Samoa confirmed the death toll had risen by seven in less than 24 hours.
In that time, another 243 measles cases were recorded and 176 people remain in hospital.
Our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says the figures are alarming.
"We're just hoping that the mass vaccination which is underway both in Upolu and Savai'i island will have some sort of relief in the next week or two."
The latest count is a sharp rise since a state of emergency was declared two weeks ago - at the time, there were just six deaths.
Information has trickled out in press releases from a government which for two weeks has brushed off interview requests by RNZ Pacific.
An immunisation expert at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, says the figures could be even worse than reported.
"You don't have enough detail sometimes to take these estimates. Like, for example, are they are they counting the cases accurately? Are they capturing them all? Or are they missing some? Can we be sure that what's being notified is the real number?"
As the crisis worsens, medical assistance has poured in from overseas.
New Zealand has deployed dozens of nurses to ease hospitals over-burdened with patients seeking measles vaccines.
Samoa's Director General Of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, says the support has been tremendous.
But on Saturday he appealed for more help.
"We know our staff has been able to cope with this, but we are also mindful that they'll be getting tired. So this is why we are ... calling for help."
Meanwhile, 60 measles vaccines have been destroyed at a local clinic in Samoa for "safety reasons".
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Leausa Dr Take Naseri said the clinic took them without authorisation.
He says the provider is being investigated by the Ministry of Health.
"They were not stored in that specialised fridge where it has to maintain the temperature. So we have to maintain that standard."
Leausa says at least one nurse at the clinic is also under investigation.
"There was no agreement, no standards and they are these nurses are not vaccinators."
The government didn't name the provider but the Agape Jal clinic on Tuesday accused the Ministry of Health of a smear campaign.
It says it's provided vaccinations for the past three weeks in line with local regulations, although it admits to charging a $US14 fee for services.
The fee was likely a sticking point in a country where measles vaccinations have been made free and mandatory under law.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi last week appealed to private medical practices to join the public sector effort to vaccinate Samoans.
