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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 15 April 2025

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Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 08 April 2025:

Dengue

  • Tonga: As of 14 April 2025, the Ministry of Health reported seven new dengue cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases to 492 since the declaration of the Outbreak on 19 February 2025, primarily affecting 10-19-year-olds. Six patients are currently hospitalised, all reported to be in stable condition, with no death reported so far. Authorities continue case investigations, mosquito control and public awareness efforts, urging residents to eliminate breeding sites, use protective measures, and seek medical attention for severe symptoms. The serotype that is responsible for this current outbreak is Dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2) identified by the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Melbourne Australia. The red alert for DENV-2 is maintained. – Source: Dengue Fever Outbreak, Situation report #42 (14 April 2025) shared on PacNet on 14 April 2025.
  • Fiji: As of 23 March 2025, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported 5,128 cases of dengue nationally with 2841 cases in the Western division, 1095 cases in the North, 1090 cases in Central and 102 cases in the Eastern division. Additionally, there has been 1,511 admissions nationwide with 4 deaths reported. In addition to the ongoing outbreak that was declared in the Western division on 03 February 2025, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services have since declared a dengue fever outbreak in the Central Division on 11 April 2025 with the most recent increase of cases in March seen to be above the expected levels for the same period last year. The surge in cases have been observed over the last three weeks in the subdivisions within Central while there has also been an increase in admissions of dengue fever cases at the subdivisional hospitals and at the main tertiary hospital. Targeted interventions continue, including house-to-house surveillance, larviciding, mosquito control measures and public awareness programs. The dengue serotypes causing the current outbreak are Dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3). The red alert for DENV-2 and DENV-3 is maintained. - Source: Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Press release on Dengue Fever and Leptospirosis and Press Release on Dengue Fever Oubreak for the Central Division accessed on 15 April 2025.
  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 14, 80 new cases (70 confirmed and 10 probable) were reported. Since November 27, 2023, a total of 1,633 cases have been recorded, including 1,473 confirmed and 160 probable cases. Six new hospitalisations were reported in EpiWeek 14. Both the positivity and hospitalisation rates increased compared to EpiWeek 13. The blue alert for DENV-1 is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°13 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 15 April 2025.

Influenza

  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 14, 15 new influenza cases (9 type A, 6 type B) were reported. Among these cases, there were two hospitalisations reported. Since EpiWeek 03, 496 influenza cases were reported (93% type A and 7% type B), with a total of 154 hospitalisations and eleven deaths. Both positivity and hospitalisation rates decreased during this reporting period. The blue alert for influenza A is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°13 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 15 April 2025.
  • Niue: On the 26 March 2025, the Niue Health Department declared an outbreak of Influenza A in Niue following an increase in symptomatic cases across multiple age groups and villages. As of 13th April 2025, there have been 39 confirmed cases, thirteen hospitalisations with the highest number of individuals affected in the 11-18 years age group. The Health Department is currently managing the outbreak. A red alert for influenza A is added. – Source: Niue Influenza A Outbreak Situation Report #2 – 20205 shared on Niue Pubic Health Division accessed on 15 April 2025

Pertussis / Whooping cough

  • French Polynesia: Since June 14, 2024, a total of 691 confirmed cases of pertussis have been reported. Pertussis activity is slowing down in EpiWeek 14. A total of 23 hospitalisations have been reported since June 14, 2024, and one death was recorded in EpiWeek 46 of 2024 in an infant. Since the last report, one additional case has been reported. The blue alert is maintained. Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°13 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 15 April 2025.
  • New Zealand: As of week ending on 4th April, weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand decreased to 52 from 56 in week ending on 28 March, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 1102. According to the latest report from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), since the start of the national epidemic on 19 October 2024, 2,190 confirmed, probable and suspect cases have been notified. Of these, 187 cases (8.5%) have required hospitalisation with one reported death, with 86 (49.1%) of the 175 cases in infants under 1 year hospitalised. The blue alert is maintained. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard and Pertussis report 8 March–4 April 2025 accessed on 15 April 2025.
  • Samoa: As of 07 April 2025, a total of 427 pertussis cases (24 confirmed and 403 suspected) have been reported by Samoa's Ministry of Health between EpiWeek 46 (2024) and EpiWeek 14 (2025). The calculated cumulative incidence rate is 207.7 cases per 100,000 people. Among the 24 confirmed cases, 67% are infants under one year old, with incomplete or no vaccination in most cases, and 39% of all cases required hospitalization at Tupua Tamases Meaole Hospital (TTMH). The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Ministry of Health – Pertussis Surveillance Situation Report N°19 (EpiWeek 14: 31 March – 06 April 2025) shared to PPHSN Focal Point on 11 April 2025.

Typhoid Fever

  • Kiribati: As of 08 April 2025, The Health Department, reported another typhoid case two weeks prior to this, indicating that the outbreak is still ongoing. No severe cases have been reported since. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Personal exchanges with country focal person on 02 April 2025.

Other Information:

Chikungunya

  • Réunion Island: The ongoing chikungunya epidemic in Réunion has become “widespread and major” with 27,521 cases reported since the beginning of the year, including 6,289 new cases in the last week of March. The disease has led to 189 hospitalizations and two deaths, primarily affecting infants, elderly, and people with chronic conditions. A vaccination campaign has been launched, targeting those over 65 with comorbidities, with plans to expand as more doses become available. Health authorities are urging heightened vigilance for travelers to Réunion, visitors are advised to take preventive measures against mosquito bites, including the use of insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in accommodations with screened windows or air conditioning. Returning travelers may pose a risk of introducing chikungunya to other regions, where the Aedes mosquitoes' vector is present. It is recommended that returning travelers monitor for symptoms (fever, joint pain, rash) for up to two weeks and seek medical attention if symptoms arise. - Source: La Réunion : L’épidémie de chikungunya désormais « généralisée et majeure » accessed on 15 April 2025.

Measles

  • Situation in Australia, Canada, Hawaii, and the United States: In Australia, measles activity continues to rise across multiple states. There is an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne area, with a rising number of cases and ongoing risk of importation from travelers. In Canada, for Week 13 (March 23-29) there have been 116 new measles cases (100 confirmed and 16 probable) bringing the total to 731 cases (616 confirmed, 115 probable) across six provinces, the most affected provinces include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. In Hawaii, it has confirmed its first measles case of the year in an unvaccinated child under 5 who recently returned from international travel. The child is recovering at home, and the Department of Health is working to identify and inform those who may have been exposed. In the United States, a total of 712 measles cases have been reported across 25 U.S. jurisdictions, as of April 10, with 93% of these cases linked to seven outbreaks. The majority of cases are among unvaccinated individuals, and 11% of the cases have resulted in hospitalization. There have been two confirmed deaths and one death under investigation. The 25 jurisdictions are as follows, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. This evolving situation underscores the importance for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) to strengthen and sustain high measles vaccination coverage in order to mitigate the risk of importation and local outbreaks - Source: Increased risk of measles in greater Melbourne area,Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report,Hawaii confirms travel-related measles case in child under 5, and Measles Cases and Outbreaks accessed on 15 April 2025.

Melioidosis

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

  • New Caledonia: Since January 1, 2025, 158 tests have been performed. 20 cases of RSV have been confirmed, including 12 in March. An increase in cases has been observed, consistent with the seasonal trend of previous years, with an increase between weeks 10 and 17. - Source: Alerte DASS – Santé & Surveillance, Le point épidémiologique #002 (09 April 2025) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 14 April 2025.

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