Attachments
Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 03 February 2026:
Dengue
- Cook Islands: The Cook Islands dengue outbreak continues to escalate, with 614 probables, confirmed, and suspected cases to date, including 75 active cases, 513 recoveries, and 40 total hospitalisations. The first dengue‑related death was reported on 2 February 2026, an elderly person with underlying medical conditions. In response to rising transmission on Rarotonga and detected cases in Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia, Te Marae Ora has launched Operation Namu26, a national 30–60‑day intensified intervention involving coordinated vector control, island‑wide clean‑ups, strengthened community mobilisation, expanded perifocal and block spraying, and enhanced surveillance across the Pa Enua. Tourism operators, Red Cross teams, island governments, and Puna communities are actively supporting prevention efforts through spraying, risk‑communication, and distribution of dengue prevention packs. The blue alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 remains in effect. – Source: Dengue Situational Report - Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health and Operation Namu26 launched to strengthen national dengue response - Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health accessed on 10 February 2026.
- Samoa: Samoa continues to experience a prolonged dengue outbreak, with 16,482 cumulative cases reported from 1 January 2025 to 1 February 2026. During EpiWeek 05 (26 January – 01 February 2026), 56 new cases were recorded, including 11 new hospital admissions, marking increases compared to the previous week, while 35 cases were laboratory‑confirmed and no ICU admissions were reported. Although case numbers had decreased earlier in January, recent weeks show rising presentations with dengue‑like symptoms, with higher concentrations of cases in North West Upolu (Vaimauga–Sagaga) and Savaii (Faasaleleaga and Palauli), reflecting sustained community transmission across both main islands. One additional death was reported in EpiWeek 05, a seven‑month‑old infant bringing the total deaths to eight. Public health authorities continue to urge environmental clean‑ups, mosquito‑bite prevention, and early care seeking. The blue alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 remains in effect. – Source: Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report in Samoa (issue No.42, EpiWeek 05) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 04 February 2026 & CURRENT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE STATUS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY accessed on 03 February 2026.
Influenza
- New Caledonia: Since the start of the current influenza wave in EpiWeek 48‑2025, New Caledonia has reported 297 confirmed cases, predominantly A/H3N2 (204 cases), with numbers peaking around EpiWeeks 50 & 512025 before steadily declining to one case in EpiWeek 04‑2026. The test positivity rate has fallen sharply from 50% in December to 7% in EpiWeek 05‑2026, confirming that the epidemic wave is continuing its downward trajectory. Sentinel network data show that acute respiratory infection activity, which reached 18% in EpiWeek 50‑2025, has now stabilised at 3%, remaining below the vigilance threshold and indicating reduced community transmission. Although emergency department attendance for respiratory symptoms has decreased, a moderate level of viral circulation persists prompting ongoing surveillance to monitor possible rebound linked to post‑holiday movements and school reopenings. As a result, the blue alert for Influenza A is now removed. – Source: Influenza situation update 2026 - #2 (02.02.2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 06 February 2026.
Influenza-like illness
- Republic of Marshall Islands: Influenza‑like illness (ILI) activity in the Marshall Islands remains elevated in EpiWeek 05, with 28 ILI cases in Majuro, 2 in Ebeye, and 37 cases reported across outer‑island health centers, several of which exceeded their population‑based alert thresholds, indicating persistent localized transmission. Although national trends show a continuation of the gradual decline observed in earlier weeks, outer‑island communities continue to report clusters above alert levels, reflecting uneven transmission dynamics. The aetiology is yet to be determined thus a grey alert for ILI remains in effect. – Source: RMI Communicable Disease Weekly Report for EpiWeek 05 (26 January – 01 February 2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 05 February2026.
Measles
- Australia: Measles activity in Australia continues to rise across multiple states and territories, with Victoria now reporting six confirmed cases in 2026, all linked to overseas travel, and new public exposure sites prompting strengthened vaccination and surveillance messaging. In New South Wales, two additional cases were confirmed in Sydney: one locally acquired and one imported bringing the state’s total to 10 cases since 1 January 2026, with multiple exposure sites identified across Sydney. South Australia has confirmed its third case of 2026, an infant infected overseas, with several exposure sites listed though no ongoing risk remains, while Queensland reports eight cases to date, evenly split between imported infections and local transmission linked to those imported cases. The Northern Territory has not confirmed any measles cases in 2026 but remains on high alert due to significant interstate and international measles activity, emphasising vaccination checks and strict clinical protocols given Australia’s continued importation‑driven transmission risk. The red alert for measles in Australia remains in effect. – Sources: Chief Health Officer Alert - New measles cases in Victoria - 6 February 2026, Measles alert for Sydney, Measles case 5 February 2026 | SA Health, Notifiable conditions reports: Summary information | Queensland Health, CDC surveillance update - January 2026 and National Communicable Diseases Surveillance Dashboard accessed on 10 February 2026.
Pertussis/Whooping cough
- New Zealand: As of the week ending on 30 January 2026, weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand decreased to 53 cases as compared to 58 in previous week ending on 23 January, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2026 to 243. The blue alert for pertussis remains in effect. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard accessed on 10 February 2026.
Other Information:
Dengue
- New Caledonia: New Caledonia has recorded 37 dengue cases since 1 January 2026, including 32 confirmed and 3 probable autochthonous cases, one imported case from Tahiti, and one clinical case. Three patients were hospitalised but have since been discharged home. Of the 25 serotyped infections, all were identified as DENV-1, matching the strain circulating in French Polynesia. Transmission has intensified during the hot and rainy season, with cases now detected across 13 municipalities, including several areas not covered by the Wolbachia programme, marking the highest early‑year circulation since 2020. Investigations highlighted links to recent travel in the Northern Province and a small cluster without travel history, suggesting multiple points of local transmission. Source: La dengue | Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales de Nouvelle-Calédonie accessed on 03 February 2026 & Dengue situation update 2026 - #2 (04.02.2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 06 February 2026.
- New Zealand: In New Zealand (NZ), during surveillance week 05 of 2026 (31 January – 06 February), 36 confirmed imported dengue cases and one case under investigation were reported. Among those with travel history, 83% had returned from the Cook Islands, 14% from Samoa, and 3% from Tonga. Given the known serological cross‑reactivity between dengue and other flaviviruses, some reported dengue cases may ultimately be reclassified as other flavivirus infections as epidemiological and laboratory investigations continue. Source: NZ Arbovirus Notifications by Country (05: 31/01/2026–06/02/2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 09 February 2026.
Measles
- New Zealand: The measles outbreak that began in September 2025 has officially ended after more than 42 days without any linked cases, with a total of 48 cases identified across four separate incursions. Health authorities’ credit strong public health coordination, extensive contact tracing, and high community cooperation for preventing a larger outbreak and delivering nearly 107,000 MMR vaccine doses during the response. Despite the outbreak’s closure, New Zealand remains at risk of future cases due to ongoing travel‑related importations and pockets of low immunisation, underscoring the importance of ensuring two MMR doses for protection. Source: Measles outbreak over, but heightened risk remains – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora accessed on 10 February 2026.
- Singapore: Singapore has detected a rise in measles activity in early 2026, with 11 cases recorded in January, compared to two cases during the same month last year. All infections occurred in individuals who were not fully vaccinated, including three infants under 12 months. This increase reflects the broader global surge in measles, with the WHO reporting sharp rebounds across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Western Pacific, underscoring Singapore’s continued vulnerability as a major travel hub. Of note, three of the January cases were genetically linked despite no known contact, suggesting the possibility of undetected local transmission and prompting the Communicable Diseases Agency to intensify isolation, contact tracing, and quarantine measures for non‑immune contacts. Source: Public health measures stepped up as measles cases rise globally and in Singapore | Communicable Diseases Agency accessed on 10 February 2026.
Typhoid fever
- Tonga: As of 06 February 2026, Tonga Ministry of Health has reported three confirmed typhoid fever cases, all linked to the village of Hofoa, where 43 contacts have been identified and placed under monitoring. All cases have been investigated through active field surveillance, household assessments, and stool sample testing, with contacts remaining asymptomatic and under close follow‑up. In response, the Ministry of Health has implemented Hofoa‑specific restrictions from 27 January to 27 March 2026, including a ban on all food‑related gatherings and kava events, alongside intensified sanitation checks and water safety measures. Source: Typhoid Fever Update - Ministry of Health Tonga accessed on 10 February 20206.