Pacific Epidemic and Emerging Disease Alerts as of May 7, 2024 – World

Highlights/Updates since the map was last published on PacNet on April 30, 2024: 

Dengue fever

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 17, two new cases of dengue were reported among 60 samples tested. One additional case was detected on May 2, EpiWeek 18, bringing the total number of cases to 49 since November 27, 2023. Most cases come from Tahiti. No new hospitalizations were reported this week. DENV-1 was identified in one case in EpiWeek 13; All other cases were DENV-2. The blue alarm remains. – Source: Bulletin de Surveillance Sanitaire de Polynésie Française No. 17 – 2024, transmitted to the PPHSN contact point on May 3, 2024.

• Samoa: In EpiWeek 17, 48 new confirmed dengue cases were reported, bringing the total to 298 cases since November 2023. No hospitalizations or deaths were reported during this period. The most affected age groups are children under 10 and adults over 60. The serotype results are still pending. The red alert remains in effect. – Source: Samoan Ministry of Health Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report No. 9, EpiWeek 17, published May 6, 2024 on PacNet.

Influenza A

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 17, 33 new cases of influenza A were confirmed out of 128 tests conducted. Twenty of the cases were hospitalized and two cases were admitted to the intensive care unit. One case was reported as deceased and one patient was over 75 years old. Of the 20 hospitalized cases, eight were over 60 years old, three were under 1 year old, and two were between 1 and 4 years old. The positivity rate has increased compared to previous weeks. The red alert remains in effect. – Source: Bulletin de Surveillance Sanitaire de Polynésie Française No. 17 – 2024, transmitted to the PPHSN contact point on May 3, 2024.

Leptospirosis

• Vanuatu: From April 25 to May 1, three new cases of leptospirosis were reported on Ambae Island, Penama Province. This brings the total to 10 cases since April 15, 2024, with no deaths reported. The Ministry of Health had deployed a national emergency response team to support the response in Ambae. The red alert remains in effect. Source: Leptospirosis in Vanuatu – SitRep #2: Coverage period from April 15 to May 1, 2024, shared on PacNet on May 6, 2024.

Other information:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Due to evolving COVID-19 testing, vaccination and reporting strategies in the Pacific, the data reported may not reflect the actual situation in a number of countries.

• Hawaii: From April 23 to April 29, 2024, the Hawaii Department of Health reported an increase statewide in the daily average cases of COVID-19 to 30 cases and the weekly positivity rate to 4.3%. Four new deaths were reported during this period, with an average of 17 hospitalizations and two patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Most of these cases were reported in Honolulu and Maui counties – Source: Disease Outbreak Control Department | COVID-19 | State of Hawaii – Department of Health (hawaii.gov) accessed on May 7, 2024.

• Niue: As of May 5, 2024, the Niue Health Department reported that all active COVID-19 cases had recovered in the last 24 hours. To date, a total of 1,074 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Niue since March 2022. No deaths or hospitalizations were reported during this period. However, the public is urged to continue to seek medical attention and get tested if they experience symptoms of COVID-19. Source: Personal communication with the country contact point from May 6, 2024.

Encephalitis

• Australia, Western Australia (WA): On May 1, 2024, the Western Australian Health Department issued an alert after the first case of encephalitis, likely caused by Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), was reported in the Pilbara region. The affected adult is receiving medical treatment, warning the community about ongoing mosquito activity in northern Washington. – Source: First case of mosquito-borne flavivirus encephalitis in WA in 2024 (health.wa.gov.au) accessed on May 7, 2024

Influenza-like illness (ILI)

• Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI): In EpiWeek 17, CNMI reported an increase in the number of ILI cases from 36 cases in EW16 to 53 cases in EW17. Overall, the number of ILI cases in EpiWeek 17 increased by 50% compared to the previous three EpiWeeks and is still within limits. Tests were conducted and the following were confirmed: Twelve cases of influenza A, two cases of influenza A coinfection with streptococci, eight cases of upper respiratory tract infection (URI), one case of COVID-19, three cases of pneumonia, one case of Pneumonia + URI, eight cases of strep and one case of strep + pyelonephritis. – Source: CNMI Weekly Surveillance Report 2024 – EPI Week 17, distributed to the PPHSN focal point on May 2, 2024.

Leptospirosis

• New Caledonia: In April 2024, New Caledonia’s Health Department reported an increase in leptospirosis cases from 11 in March to 18 cases in April. This brings the total number of cases since January 2024 to 50. Of the reported cases, 43 cases (86%) were hospitalized, with 19 of those cases being admitted to the intensive care unit. One death was reported in 2024. Source: 20240430 – DASS NC – Fiche et point Lepto.pdf accessed on May 7, 2024.

Additional relevant information – imported cases with travel history to Pacific Island countries and territories:

Dengue fever exported from Indonesia

• Indonesia has seen a significant increase in dengue cases with over 60,000 reported cases and 455 deaths as of April 8, 2024, raising concerns and the importance of increased awareness and preventive measures for all travelers planning a trip to Indonesia, underlined. Source: WHO SEARO Epidemiological Bulleting 8th edition, April 17, 2024 (who.int) accessed on May 7, 2024

• Australia, Western Australia (WA): On May 1, 2024, the Western Australian Department of Health issued a Dengue Fever Alert for travelers Bali, Indonesia, due to a rise in cases, with 138 cases reported in Western Australia, mostly linked to travel to Indonesia. Source: Dengue Fever Alert for Western Australian Travelers (health.wa.gov.au) accessed on May 7, 2024

• New Zealand: In addition, New Zealand reported 17 imported linked dengue cases from January 1 to May 3, 2024 Indonesia. Source: NZ Arbovirus Notifications by Country (18:27/04/2024-03/05/2024), report forwarded by ESR to the PPHSN focal point on 6 May 2024.

One health:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

• Asia Pacific Region: One new case of human infection with avian influenza virus A (H5N1) was reported in China between April 26 and May 2, 2024. A total of six cases, including one death, were reported in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024, most of them in Cambodia. Source: WPRO Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 945, May 3, 2024 (who.int)* accessed on May 7, 2024

• The Asia Pacific Region It is recommended to remain vigilant against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It emphasizes the importance of strengthening surveillance and surveillance systems to detect the disease early despite its asymptomatic manifestation in migratory wild birds and poultry. Source: FAO/WHO/WOAH Joint Preliminary Assessment of Current Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses accessed on May 7, 2024

• United States: In addition, the first case of human influenza A(H5N1) infection through contact with an infected mammal was reported in the United States on April 9, 2024, representing the second confirmed human case in the country. Source: Avian Influenza A(H5N1) – United States of America (who.int) accessed on May 7, 2024

Ross River virus

• Australia, Queensland (QLD): On April 30, 2024, Queensland Health issued a press release following a record-breaking number of Ross River virus detections in mosquitoes in Queensland. 116 of 1,225 cases tested positive, the highest since surveillance began in 2016. From January 1 to April 28, 2024, a total of 2,107 human cases of Ross River virus were reported, an increase from 661 cases in Year 2023 in the same period. Source: Record-breaking discoveries of Ross River virus in mosquitoes in Queensland | Queensland Health accessed on May 7, 2024.

Upcoming mass meeting: