SUVA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Samoan government confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll of the measles epidemic in the island nation has climbed to 60, with five deaths reported in the past 24 hours.

According to a government statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said that all but eight of the dead were children aged under four.

In Samoa, which reported the measles outbreak since Mid-October, a total of 4,052 measles cases have been recorded to the Disease Surveillance Team so far, with 171 cases reported in the last 24 hours.

A total of 177 people, including 20 children in critical condition, are now hospitalized with measles in the island nation.

Samoa is now in a state of emergency, with all schools closed, a mass vaccination campaign underway and public gatherings in the nation restricted.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced the closure of public service and all government services from Thursday to Friday in order to allow all public servants to assist with the mass vaccination campaign throughout the country.

During the closure period, all inter-island travels between the two main islands of Upolu and Savaii I will be closed. Civil aviation services, hotels and accommodation services, communication services and hospitals are exempt with a few other needed services during the closure period.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Death may occur in up to 5-10 percent of infected young children in developing countries. Enditem

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