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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 13 January 2026

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Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 23 December 2025:

Dengue

  • American Samoa: On 8 July 2025, American Samoa declared a public health emergency in response to a dengue outbreak. As of 4 January 2026, 16 new cases have been reported, bringing the total to 566 lab-confirmed cases. Of these cases, 288 individuals required hospitalisation at some point during their illness with no severe complications or dengue haemorrhagic fever observed. Of the five hundred sixty-six confirmed cases, four hundred twenty-three are children and one hundred forty-three are adults. Molecular sequencing conducted by the laboratory confirmed co-circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 with sixty-six cases identified as DENV-1 and four cases as DENV-2. The public health response actions involve a multi-sector response, targeted spraying at residences of local confirmed cases up to 250 metres, fogging of high-risk areas, weekly public awareness campaigns and urging the public to take preventive measures such as avoiding mosquito bites, eliminating mosquito breeding sites, and supporting community-based vector control efforts. The red alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 remains in effect. – Source: American Samoa Department of Health Dengue Response Sitrep 26, 5 January 2026 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 11 January 2026.

Influenza

  • French Polynesia: In French Polynesia, an outbreak of influenza is ongoing with 48 influenza A cases confirmed in EpiWeek 1 (29 December – 4 January 2026). Of these, twenty-five cases required hospitalisation with six cases in intensive care. Three new deaths were recorded bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the outbreak to 10. Influenza A(H3N2) is the predominant subtype. Seasonal flu vaccination is available for target groups at all healthcare facilities and selected pharmacies. A red alert for Influenza A remains in effect. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°1 - 2026 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 13 January 2026.

  • Federated States of Micronesia: In the Federated States of Micronesia, the Yap Communicable Disease Report for EpiWeek 49 (1 – 7 December 2025) highlighted a significant surge in influenza-like-illness (ILI) with 136 cases reported, more than double the previous week, which prompted the Yap EpiNet team to declare an influenza outbreak on 8 December 2025. The surge in ILI was detected in the outer islands, namely Woleai Atoll, Lamotrek and Elato. As of 9 January 2026, 37 new ILI cases were reported bringing the cumulative total since 16 November 2025 to 885 cases. The laboratory has confirmed 58 infuenza A cases, including two subtyped as A(H3) and 3 respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) infections. The most affected age group is 0-4 years. While reports are declining on mainland Yap, there are indications of rising ILI cases at sentinel sites in the outer islands. A red alert for Influenza A remains in effect. – Sources: Yap Communicable Disease Report for Week 49 and State Department of Health Services, Situational Report No. 13 (9 January 2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 9 January 2026.

  • New Caledonia: In New Caledonia, since the beginning of 2025, 493 influenza cases have been reported. Two epidemic waves have been observed in 2025: the first between EpiWeeks 51-2024 and 04-2025 (140 cases) and the second, which began in week 48 of 2025, is still ongoing with 240 cases. The predominant strain is A/H3N2 (171 cases of influenza A/H3N2 and 69 cases of unsubtyped influenza A). Since Week 48, children under 2 years and adults over 65 years old, considered the most vulnerable groups, have been the age groups most affected by the influenza outbreak, accounting for 44% of confirmed cases. A red alert for Influenza A is added. – Source: Alerte DASS Grippe, The Department of Health and Social Affairs (DASS) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 6 January 2026.

  • Wallis and Futuna: As of 13 January 2026, nearly 1,100 influenza-like illnesses cases have been reported in Wallis and Futuna since mid-December 2025, including 16 hospitalisations and 2 deaths. The red alert for Influenza A remains in effect. – Source: Personal communication with Wallis and Futuna focal point 13 January 2026.

Influenza-like illness

  • Republic of Marshall Islands: The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) Communicable disease weekly report for EpiWeek 1 (29 December – 4 January 2026) highlighted a surge in influenza-like illness (ILI) from EpiWeek 49, 2025 with a peak in Week 51, followed by a decrease in case numbers till EpiWeek 1, 2026. Despite the decrease in case numbers, the epi-curve is still above threshold. The ILI cases were reported from across Majuro and neighbouring islands. Individuals affected are in recovery phase. The aetiology is yet to be determined thus a grey alert for ILI is added. – Source: RMI Communicable Disease Weekly Report for EpiWeek 1 (29 December – 4 January 2026) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 9 January 2026.

Measles

  • Australia: Queensland Health has issued a measles alert for the Sunshine Coast after confirmed cases visited multiple public locations between 2-3 January 2026. Queensland has reported a total of 35 measles cases including two cases so far this year. In Victoria, a new measles case was reported on 23 December 2025 in an adult who likely acquired the infection overseas during travel to Bali. In New South Wales (NSW), NSW Health has issued an alert on 2 January 2026 for northern Sydney after a person recently returned from Indonesia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles and was identified as a contact of a measles case on their return flight to Australia. In South Australia (SA), SA Health reported a case on 4 January 2026 in an adult who was exposed overseas and visited SA while infectious and have since returned to NSW. Exposure sites have been listed. Individuals who visited the listed exposure sites during the specified dates and times are advised to monitor for symptoms for up to three weeks from the exposure date, seek medical advice if symptoms develop and to check their vaccination status is up to date. For the year 2025, a total of 179 cases has been reported across Australia with recent reports from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. The red alert for measles in Queensland remains in effect. – Sources: Measles alert for Sunshine Coast, National Communicable Diseases Surveillance Dashboard, New measles case in Victoria 23 December 2025,Measles alert for northern Sydney 2 January 2026 and Measles case 4 January 2026 accessed on 13 January 2026.

Pertussis/Whooping cough

  • New Zealand: As of the week ending on 26 December 2025, weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand decreased to 44 cases as compared to 70 in previous week ending on 19 December, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 2,712. According to the latest report from the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science), 3,651 confirmed, probable and suspect cases have been notified since the start of the national epidemic on 19 October 2024. Of these, 325 cases (9.3%) have required hospitalisation with one reported death. Out of the 308 cases in infants under 1 year, 155 (51.3%) have been hospitalised. The blue alert remains in effect. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard and Pertussis report 15 November–12 December 2025 accessed on 13 January 2026.

Other Information:

Japanese Encephalitis

  • Australia: The first detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in a mosquito in rural Victoria has been confirmed during routine testing. JEV was first detected in south-eastern Australia in 2022, with 45 human cases and 7 deaths reported between January 2021 and December 2022, and 9 cases with 5 deaths in 2024–2025, though many infections likely went unreported. Its unpredictable circulation and severe complications in some cases make JEV a significant public health concern, highlighting the importance of awareness, vaccination, and preventive measures. Source: Be JEV-aware this summer 24 December 2025 accessed on 13 January 2026.

Measles

  • Canada: In Canada, for EpiWeek 53 (28 December – 3 January 2026) there has been 32 new confirmed measles cases bringing the total to 5,425 cases (5,045 confirmed, 380 probable) making it the country with the highest number of reported cases in the Region of the Americas, with persistent transmission in provinces like Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. – Source: Government of Canada Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report Epi-week 53: 28 December – 3 January 2026 accessed on 13 January 2026.

  • United States: In the United States, for the year 2025 the CDC reported a total of 2,144 measles cases across 45 U.S. jurisdictions, with 88% of these cases linked to forty-nine outbreaks. As of 6 January 2026, 3 confirmed measles cases reported in the U.S. in 2026. The majority of cases are among unvaccinated individuals (93%), and 11% of the cases have resulted in hospitalization. There have been three confirmed deaths. The 45 jurisdictions that have reported measles cases are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. – Source: CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks Update as of 7 January 2025, accessed on 13 January 2026.

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