Pink eye outbreak shuts schools in American Samoa

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.wral.com/pink-eye-outbrea...amoa/13541863/

Pink eye outbreak shuts schools in American Samoa
Posted 24 minutes ago
By FILI SAGAPOLUTELE, Associated Press

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa ? Officials in American Samoa on Friday ordered all public schools in the U.S. island territory closed after nearly 2,300 students and more than 100 teachers contracted pink eye.

The outbreak prompted the closure of 28 schools from preschool through high school, plus special education programs, and they will not reopen until Wednesday. Some private schools were also closed and court cases postponed because of pink eye.

Close to 2,300 students and 130 teachers have pink eye, said Salu Hunkin-Finau, director of the territory's Education Department. About 13,000 kids are enrolled in public schools in American Samoa, a group of islands in the South Pacific about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii...

[Shiloh]

Re: Pink eye outbreak shuts schools in American Samoa

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/internation...-over-pink-eye


American Samoa health official tells locals not to panic over pink eye
Updated 43 minutes ago

A health official in American Samoa has re-assured residents that pink eye is not a serious long term threat.

Dr Mark Durand says that as of Monday morning 468 cases of pink eye had been recorded at the hospital and three community health centers on the main island of Tutuila, while there are no cases in the Manua island group.

However, these numbers does not include the nearly 2,300 students in public schools and 130 teachers affected...

[Shiloh]

Re: Pink eye outbreak shuts schools in American Samoa

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1206995/sam...hts-disrupted/


Posted in: Health Posted: April 9, 2014
Samoa Pink Eye Outbreak: Dozens Of Schools Closed, Flights Disrupted


A Samoa pink eye epidemic has forced most schools to shut down for the remainder of the week and even caused flight disruptions as health officials try to quell an outbreak of the highly contagious condition.

Health officials believe that as much as 5 percent of the population in the United States territory have contracted pink eye, an ailment characterized by itchy, watery eyes. The outbreak has already affected close to 2,500 students and teachers and even caused some court hearings to be moved. Passengers affected by the disease have also been stopped from boarding flights.

The Samoan government had already shut down all 28 public schools last week for the Samoa pink eye outbreak, and though officials hoped to have them open by this week only four are back in session...

[Shiloh]

Re: Pink eye outbreak shuts schools in American Samoa

Source: http://www.wtop.com/267/3603001/Amer...-pink-eye-woes

American Samoa schools reopen after pink eye woes
Monday - 4/14/2014, 9:00pm ET
FILI SAGAPOLUTELE
Associated Press

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) -- Public schools in American Samoa fully reopened Monday after some 3,000 students and teachers contracted pink eye, an outbreak that prompted tourism officials to warn cruise passengers heading to the group of islands in the South Pacific.

Schools in the U.S. territory's main island of Tutuila reopened for the first time since April 4. They make up the bulk of the 28 facilities that shut their doors on the islands about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Students at four schools got back to class last week...