High numbers of infants admitted with fever and rash illnesses

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 17 AUGUST 2022: A high number of infants and children aged 0-4 had been admitted to the main hospitals and private clinics due to the spread of a contagious fever and rash illnesses in the last four weeks.

The Ministry of Health has put out a public announcement regarding the outbreak of these illnesses and added that according to syndromic surveillance of hospitals, the admission of children recorded continues to increase.

“Symptoms of these cases are consistent with multiple illnesses including chickenpox and hand-foot-mouth-disease,” states MOH.

Investigations are ongoing on the cases of these children who have been admitted mainly children with severe symptoms.

Chickenpox and HFMD diseases are identified as very contagious and are spread easily and fast among children 5 years old and under but anyone can get it.

Both viruses are spread through person to person contact.

A local senior doctor, Esmay Judith Ah Leong also confirmed that she had been seeing a significant number of infants and children with chickenpox like or varicella like lesions last week but more so on Sunday.

“The lesions and the distribution are more aligned with eczema, particularly eczema herpeticum. Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) is a differential diagnosis but HFMD is commonly found at the said locations, in other words, it doesn’t disseminate like the present lesions with the patients I have seen and treated, where the lesions are mostly on the face and limbs and with torso distribution,” she added.

“These lesions are also raised and have umbilication or central dimples; HFMD lesions are flatter and smaller.”

With her physical contacts with the affected patients, Dr. Ah Leong confirmed she has been exposed but is yet to develop the lesions.

Symptoms
The lesions are highly contagious and may appear 5-12 days after contact with an infected person.

Secondary infections of these illnesses can lead to impetigo (mumu asuafi) or cellulitis (mumu) which are itchy and/or painful.

Specific symptoms and prevention measures of both illnesses can be found on MOH Facebook page.

Meanwhile, MOH cautioned the public to take heed of key prevention measure to control the current transmission such as proper nutrition and wearing of facemasks.

With the official declaration of the two diseases, this confirms that there are currently four diseases spreading in the country: Covid-19, seasonal Flu disease, fever and rash diseases.

MOH also emphasized that the Monkeypox disease has been declared a Global Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organisation on 25 July 25.

“Due to the current outbreak of Monkeypox in several countries that have not had this disease before, it has now become a global concern as it is increasingly associated with resumption of international travel,” MOH stated.

“While the risk of Monkeypox to the general public at the moment is currently low, early prevention and protection is considered as a high priority.”

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which also spreads through physical contact with the infected and is symptomatic.

It has been recently reported that most people who have been infected with Monkeypox recover fully without treatment, but in some cases people may become severely ill.

As Monkeypox has not yet reached Samoa, it is critical that every individual is informed of the disease especially now that the travel restrictions to Samoa have been lifted.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Seuula Ioane said that the Ministry of Education will follow recommendations by the Ministry of Health if there is a need for schools to close. But teachers have been advised to inform parents to keep children at home if they are affected and to take heed of preventative measures advised by MOH.