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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 18 July 2023

Attachments

Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 11 July 2023:

Influenza B

  • Palau: As of 16 July 2023, the Ministry of Health and Human Services is reporting an increase in Influenza B cases in week 28, 13 cases of influenza B were confirmed out of 28 isolates. After several weeks of decreasing numbers of Influenza-Like Illness cases (from 61 to 48 to 26 in Weeks 25, 26 and 27 respectively) a total of 29 cases of ILI were reported in week 28, just above the ILI threshold (24 cases per week). Source: Ministry of Health & Human Services Syndromic Surveillance (Epi Week 28 of 2023 and report information through July 16, 2023).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 testing, vaccination and reporting strategies across the pacific region, the data reported might not reflect the true situation in a number of countries.

  • Palau: As of 14 July 2023, 51 new cases were reported since 30 June 2023. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reported an increase in COVID-19 cases, thus enhanced precautionary measures are recommended to interrupt further spread. Consequently, a red alert for COVID-19 is added. – Source: Palau COVID-19 Situation reportaccessed on 18 July 2023.

  • Tokelau: As of 14 July 2023, Tokelau has reported a total of 80 COVID-19 cases. There were 26 new cases reported since 11 July 2023. Consequently, a red alert for COVID-19 is added. – Source: Tokelau COVID-19 Update accessed on 18 July 2023.

Other information:

Measles

Meningococcal Meningitis

  • Australia (South Australia): As of 17 July 2023, a case of invasive meningococcal disease has been notified in a nine-year-old boy from metropolitan Adelaide. The strain has been identified as serotype B. South Australia Health has identified multiple people who had contact with the patient, of whom three people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics. There have been 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia this year. Of the 13 cases reported so far this year, one has been a serogroup W, and 12 have been serogroup B. – Source: Meningococcal case 17 July 2023 | SA Health accessed on 18 July 2023.

Murray Valley Encephalitis

  • Australia (Western Australia): As of 14 July 2023, a traveller has been hospitalised after contracting Murray Valley encephalitis, as Western Australia experiences its worst outbreak in 12 years. The West Australian Department of Health is advising residents and travellers in the Kimberley region to be cautious of mosquito bites due to unusual rainfall and recent cases of the mosquito-borne disease, including two fatalities and four infections in the past year. – Source: New Murray Valley encephalitis case prompts mosquito warning for the Kimberley (health.wa.gov.au) accessed on 18 July 2023.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

  • American Samoa: As of 14 July 2023, the Department of Health recommended daycares reopen since American Samoa is no longer on high alert for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The positivity rate has gone down by 50%, hospital admission and disease severity rates have also decreased. The recommendations were to reopen daycares, continue mass media campaigns on prevention, and continuing to monitor RSV. – Source: Personal communication with country officials on 14 July 2023.