Samoa's government has announced the measles vaccine will be compulsory for everyone, as the death toll from the epidemic rises to 53.

Axar.az reports citing, NZ Herald, that nearly 200 new cases were reported overnight, and health authorities have launched a mass vaccination campaign, reporting that almost a third of the country has been immunized in the last 12 days.

For young couple Fa'oso and Paulo Tuivale Puelua, it is too late. Three of their five children have died after contracting measles.

The family has been sitting and praying on the fresh grave of three young children, who were not immunized when they caught the virus.

Mr. Puelua said he could not understand why and how it happened. Their three-year-old was at first sent home from the hospital, with doctors giving him the all-clear.

After a day back at home, he saw rashes on his son's skin and took him back to the hospital.

"Two hours in the hospital and he has died."

Less than a week later, the couple's 18-month-old twins, Tamara and Sale caught measles and fell sick.