posed ▁a ▁full ▁quar antine ▁of ▁the ▁islands ▁from ▁all ▁incoming ▁ships , ▁successfully ▁ach ieving ▁zero ▁death s ▁within ▁the ▁territory . ▁In ▁contrast , ▁the ▁neighbour ing ▁New ▁Zealand - control led ▁Western ▁Sam oa ▁was ▁among ▁the ▁hard est ▁hit , ▁with ▁a ▁ 9 0 % ▁in fection ▁rate ▁and ▁over ▁ 2 0 % ▁of ▁its ▁adult s ▁dying ▁from ▁the ▁disease . ▁This ▁failure ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁government ▁to ▁prevent ▁and ▁contain ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Fl u ▁subsequently ▁re kind led ▁Sam o an ▁anti - colon ial ▁sent iments ▁that ▁led ▁to ▁its ▁event ual ▁independence . ▁ ▁Gru in ard ▁Island , ▁ 1 9 4 2 – 1 9 9 0 ▁( anth ra x ) ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁British ▁forces ▁tested ▁out ▁their ▁bi ological ▁weapons ▁program ▁on ▁Gru in ard ▁Island ▁and ▁inf ected ▁it ▁with ▁anth ra x . ▁Sub sequently ▁a ▁quar antine ▁order ▁was ▁placed ▁on ▁the ▁island . ▁The ▁quar antine ▁was ▁lifted ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁when ▁the ▁island ▁was ▁declared ▁safe , ▁and ▁a ▁f lock ▁of ▁sheep ▁was ▁released ▁onto ▁the ▁island . ▁ ▁Apol lo ▁series ▁space ▁expl or ers , ▁ 1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 1 ▁Between ▁ 2 4 ▁July ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁and ▁ 9 ▁February ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁the ▁astr onaut s ▁of ▁Apol lo ▁ 1 1 ,