As the death toll due to measles rises the Samoan Government has announced further measures to combat the disease.

On Tuesday evening the Government announced a complete shutdown of the private sector.

The move comes a day after the Samoan Prime Minister announced the closure of the public sector over two days.

Both will be shut down on Thursday and Friday to allow mass vaccinations of all Samoan people.

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CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF The Samoan Government has ordered the closure of the public and private sector on Thursday and Friday to allow for mass vaccinations.

During the closure period no vehicle will be permitted on the road unless it is a vehicle belonging to an exempt service from the public sector or a vehicle being used to seek medical assistance from a medical facility.

A total of 55 people have died from measles. Of that figure 52 were children under the age of 15, while 23 were babies aged less than one year old. Only one death has been an adult over the age of 19.

All private and public offices, services and businesses and operations usually open to the public in Samoa will be closed from 6am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday.

Donate via Unicef here to help get more children in Samoa immunised against measles.