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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 18 February 2025

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Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 11 February 2025:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

  • Niue: As of 10 February 2025, Niue’s Department of Health reported nine new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total active cases to 37, with 12 recoveries. Since January 11, a cumulative total of 141 positive cases have been recorded. Health officials remind individuals who test positive to report to public health staff and continue following COVID-19 precautionary measures until cleared. The red alert for COVID-19 is maintained. – Source: COVID-19 Update – Niue accessed on 18 February 2025.

Dengue

  • Fiji: As of 03 February 2025, Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services declared a dengue outbreak in the Western Division, with notifications of imported cases in New Zealand from travellers returning from Fiji. As of the 06 February 2025, laboratory testing confirmed the circulation of dengue virus serotypes DENV-2 and DENV-3 in January 2025. As a result, a red alert for dengue is maintained. – Source: Update as of 06 February 2025_Dengue Outbreak Declared for the Western Division shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 12 February 2025
  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 06, 74 new dengue cases were reported, including residents of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Maupiti, Takaroa and Nuku-Hiva. The total number of reported cases is 1008 (934 confirmed cases and 74 probable cases) since November 27, 2023. The incidence and positivity rate (32% compared to 27% the previous week) have increased compared to the previous week. In EpiWeek 06, no hospitalisations were recorded. Since the beginning of the epidemic, no severe cases or deaths have been reported. Since July 2024, DENV-1 has become the predominant serotype in the country, representing 100% of serotyped samples since EpiWeek 51, 2024. The blue alert for DENV-1 is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°6 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 18 February 2025.

Influenza-like illness and Influenza

  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 06, 62 new influenza cases (60 type A and 2 type B) were reported out of 280 test results submitted. The positivity rate remained stable compared to the previous week. Among these cases, ten hospitalisations have been reported. No deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic. Laboratory testing confirmed the circulation of influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) viruses. The red alert for influenza A is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°6 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 18 February 2025.

Pertussis / Whooping cough

  • French Polynesia: Between 14 June 2024 and 09 February 2025, 654 confirmed pertussis cases were reported. In EpiWeek 06, 19 new cases were recorded, including residents of Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Rangiroa and Hiva Oa. Pertussis circulation is ongoing, with the positivity rate fluctuating. No new hospitalisations were reported in EpiWeek 06, and one death was reported in EpiWeek 46 of 2024 in an infant. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°6 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 18 February 2025.
  • New Caledonia: As of 17 February 2025, 206 cases of pertussis have been reported since April 2024, out of 1,331 samples tested. In 2025, 35 new cases have been reported with 33 cases recorded in January. The most recent case was reported on 07 February 2025*.* The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Coqueluche | Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales de Nouvelle-Calédonie accessed on 18 February 2025.
  • New Zealand: In EpiWeek 06 (week ending February 07, 2025), weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand decreased to 78 from 130 in EpiWeek 05, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 552. According to the latest report from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), 413 pertussis cases (300 confirmed and 113 probable) were reported between 11 January and 07 February 2025, compared to 409 cases in the preceding four weeks. The number of hospitalisations remained stable compared to the prior four-week period (41 hospitalisations in this reporting period). No deaths were reported. Since the start of the national epidemic on 19 October 2024, 1,660 confirmed, probable and suspect cases have been notified. Of these, 142 cases (8.6%) have required hospitalisation with one reported death, with 68 (54.4%) of the 125 cases in infants under 1 year hospitalised. The blue alert is maintained. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard and Pertussis report 11 January–7 February 2025 accessed on 18 February 2025.

Other Information:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 06, 44 new cases were reported out of 221 tests conducted, resulting in a positivity rate of 20%. Twelve hospitalisations were recorded, including one admission to intensive care. Sequencing tests performed on collected samples identified the Omicron subvariant LPLP.8.1 in nearly all cases, with XEC also detected**.** – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°6 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 18 February 2025.

Dengue

  • Philippines, Quezon City: As of 14 February 2025, the Quezon City Government (located northeast of Manila in the National Capital Region) has declared a dengue outbreak following a 200% increase in cases compared to the previous year. A total of 1,769 cases have been reported from 01 January to 14 February 2025, with 58% occurring in school-aged children. Ten deaths have been recorded, including eight minors. In response, local authorities have intensified awareness campaigns and community clean-up drives while urging residents to eliminate stagnant water, use mosquito repellent, wear protective clothing, and seek medical attention if symptoms appear. Nationally, dengue cases have increased by 40% compared to the previous year, reaching 28,234 cases as of 01 February 2025, with an 8% increase observed from 05 to 18 January 2025. Despite this upward trend, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has declined to 0.35%, compared to 0.42% in the same period last year. – Sources: Quezon City declares outbreak amid rise of dengue cases - Quezon City Government and Recent upward trend in W.I.L.Dcases prompts urgent call for proper hygiene and self-protection mesures - DOH accessed on 18 February 2025.

Japanese Encephalitis

Melioidosis

  • Australia, Queensland: Between 3–9 February 2025, 28 new cases of melioidosis were reported, bringing the total to 46 cases from 1 January to 9 February, primarily in Cairns and Townsville, north Queensland. This represents a nearly three-fold increase compared to the 16 cases reported during the same period in 2024. Five deaths have been recorded among the 46 cases. – Source: Notifiable conditions reports: Summary information | Queensland Health accessed on 18 February 2025.

Pertussis

  • Australia: As of 31 January 2025, whooping cough is circulating at high levels across Australia, with nearly 5,000 cases recorded in January 2025, primarily affecting children aged 5 to 14 years. This follows 2024, which had the highest number of reported cases since monitoring began in 1991, highlighting the ongoing public health concern. Vaccination remains the best protection, with eligible individuals, including children and pregnant people, advised to receive free vaccines or booster doses as needed under national and state immunisation programs. – Source: Whooping cough still lingers | Australian Centre for Disease Control accessed on 18 February 2025.

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