# 2957
The Tokelau Islands lie about 500 km (311 miles) north of Samoa, and are comprised of 3 island; Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo.
They are, as they say, just a bit off the beaten path.
Over the past several days, reports of an ILI (Influenza-like-Illness) have been coming in (via radiotelephone) from the islands.
Reportedly about 10% of the population is ill.
It is, admittedly, pretty early in the flu season south of the equator to be seeing a major outbreak of influenza. Health officials from the WHO and New Zealand are enroute to provide assistance and try to identify the strain of influenza involved.
Despite the publicity and medical interest, there is no reason at this time to suspect that this is anything more exotic than seasonal flu.
In the meantime the islands are putting into practice some of the social distancing measures we would expect to see during a pandemic; schools are closed, public gatherings are cancelled, and the sick are being told to stay home.
This from the BBC.
Flu epidemic hits Pacific island
Medical officials from New Zealand are trying to get aid to the remote South Pacific islands of Tokelau, which have been hit by a flu epidemic.
The tiny archipelago, where one in 10 people are sick, is a 26-hour boat ride from its nearest neighbour, Samoa.
Most of the 150 people affected are children. Four have been hospitalised so far, according to media reports.
Public gatherings have been cancelled, schools closed, and sick people have been told to stay home.
Health officials from New Zealand and the World Health Organization are due to arrive with vaccines on Wednesday.
"This is an isolated population so there is not a high level of immunity," New Zealand's deputy director of public health, Fran Mcgrath, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
