Health officials in Samoa have closed all pre-schools following deaths they've linked to measles.

The Samoan Observer reports officials are still waiting for lab confirmation, but suspect measles is responsible for the deaths of an eight month old, 14 month old and 37 year old.

Measles was introduced to the Pacific Island by a traveller from Auckland, who arrived with no visible symptoms.

Since then more than three hundred people are thought to have contracted the disease.

Vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris told Heather du Plessis-Allan if New Zealand's played a role in spreading the disease, we should be helping.

"They have very low coverage over many years, and most recently it's taken quite a dive. So their current uptake of vaccines is not much more than 30 per cent."