Fiji is located in the South Pacific Ocean, southwest of Hawaii and north of New Zealand. Fiji is comprised of 850 islands but only about 100 are inhabited.
The measles epidemic in Fiji occurred in 1875 during a critical time period on the Fiji Islands. Europeans were expanding trade throughout the pacific islands, including Fiji. King Cakobau and some other Fijian chiefs signed the Deed of Cession which handed the Fiji islands to Great Britain. The king sailed to Sydney, Australia in December of 1874 and returned January of 1875. Some of the men on his ship still had contagious cases of measles which started the epidemic.
The measles epidemic in Fiji occurred in 1875 during a critical time period on the Fiji Islands. Europeans were expanding trade throughout the pacific islands, including Fiji. King Cakobau and some other Fijian chiefs signed the Deed of Cession which handed the Fiji islands to Great Britain. The king sailed to Sydney, Australia in December of 1874 and returned January of 1875. Some of the men on his ship still had contagious cases of measles which started the epidemic.