As the Pacific grapples with a deadly measles outbreak originating in New Zealand, some of the region's smallest states are seeing their health systems put under increasing strain before the disease even reaches their shores.
Already, measles has spread to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Health authorities in Samoa say they have registered seven deaths suspected to have been caused by the measles virus.
Now, there are fears its spread to other countries in the region could be only a matter of time.
