Attachments
Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 26 August 2025:
Dengue
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American Samoa: On 8 July 2025, American Samoa declared a public health emergency in response to a dengue outbreak, with 81 lab-confirmed cases reported by 29 August. Nearly all patients (93%) have recovered, and no severe complications or dengue haemorrhagic fever have been observed. Laboratory results by Hawaii State Laboratory confirmed co-circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2, prompting authorities to urge the public to take mosquito precautions, eliminate breeding sites, and support vector control efforts. The red alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 is maintained. – Source: DOH Update accessed on 2 September 2025.
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French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 34, 22 new dengue cases (19 confirmed and 3 probable) were reported. Since November 27, 2023, a total of 2,577 cases has been recorded, including 2,312 confirmed and 265 probable cases. No hospitalisation reported in EpiWeek 34. The positivity rate increased this week as compared to last week. The blue alert for DENV-1 is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°32- 2025 shared with focal point on 2 September 2025.
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Kiribati: The Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed a dengue outbreak on 24 April 2025, after a significant rise in confirmed cases. As of 28 August 2025, the Health Ministry reported a total of 446 confirmed dengue cases and 1,213 suspected dengue cases with 68 hospitalisations, all of which have been discharged, and one confirmed death. Dengue cases range in age from 1 month to 95 years, with the most affected group being those aged 3 to 9 years. Among all reported cases, 54% are female and 46% male. The serotypes that are responsible for this current outbreak are Dengue Virus Type 1 (DENV-1) and Dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2), tested at VIDRL in Melbourne. The Ministry of Health is actively promoting health awareness on social media through posters, press releases, and videos. It continues to investigate cases, conduct house-to-house inspections in high-risk areas, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and advise community members to maintain a clean and healthy environment. The red alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 is maintained. – Source: Dengue Fever Situational Report #17 (28 August 2025) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 28 August 2025.
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Nauru: Dengue cases were first reported by the Republic of Nauru (RON) Hospital on 27 June 2025. As of 2 September 2025, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 440 dengue cases out of the 1,425 tests conducted. Two fatalities were recorded on 30 July 2025, a 15-year-old male and 17-year-old female, with a total of 110 admissions with no cases currently admitted. The majority of cases are among children between the age of 5-10 years with 76% of the total cases being less than 18 years old. The cases are widely distributed across the island, with most of the cases from Aiwo, Denigomodu, Meneng, Buada, Anetan, Boe and Baitsi. Vector control activities, including thermal fogging, residual spraying and peri-focal spraying are being conducted in the households of confirmed cases. The public is advised to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, protect themselves from mosquito bites and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms appear. The red alert for DENV-2 is maintained*.– Sources:* Nauru Bulletin Issue 11 and Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report #54 (2 September) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 2 September 2025.
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Tuvalu: The Tuvalu Department of Health declared a dengue outbreak on 5 June 2025. As of 31 August 2025, 422 suspected cases have been tested, with 131 confirmed positive. Among these, one confirmed case was reported on Nanumaga, one of Tuvalu’s outer islands. The outbreak is caused by Dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2). Currently, 77% of cases have recovered, while 30 remain active on Funafuti. Twelve patients (six children and six adults) have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak, with no cases currently admitted. No deaths have been reported. More than two-thirds of cases are children under 14 years old, with ages ranging from 3 months to 62 years; 76 cases are males and 55 females. Hotspots include Fakaifou, Senala and Alapi. In epidemiological week 35, 23 new cases were detected, with a positivity rate of 37%, indicating an upward trend. The Department of Health continues to implement control measures, including weekly situation reports, community clean-up campaigns, mosquito net distribution and vector control activities. The red alert for DENV-2 is maintained*. – Source: Dengue Fever Outbreak, Situation report #9 (31 August 2025) shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 2 September 2025.*
Influenza
- Wallis and Futuna: On 22 July 2025, the Wallis and Futuna Health Agency declared an outbreak of influenza along with active circulation of SARS-CoV-2, following the rise in reported cases since the beginning of July. As of 24 August 2025, a 40% increase in influenza-like illness was observed in Futuna compared to the previous week, along with three confirmed cases of influenza A in Wallis. Wallis also saw a 20% rise in paracetamol prescriptions. The Health Agency urges the public to follow key prevention measures such as mask-wearing, handwashing, and avoiding contact with vulnerable individuals. The public are advised to seek medical attention when symptoms appear or contact emergency services if experiencing severe respiratory issues. The red alert for Influenza is maintained– Source:Alerte - Epidemie de virus respiratoires - Wallis et Futuna and Personal exchange with country focal point on 27 August 2025.
Pertussis/Whooping cough
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New Zealand: As of the week ending on 22 August, weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand decreased to 30 from 56 in the week ending on 15 August, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 1,848. According to the latest report from the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science), 2,933 confirmed, probable and suspect cases have been notified since the start of the national epidemic on 19 October 2024. Of these, 259 cases (9.2%) have required hospitalisation with one reported death. 122 (50.4%) out of the 245 cases in infants under 1 year have been hospitalised. The blue alert is maintained. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard and Pertussis Report 26 July–22 August 2025 accessed on 2 September 2025.
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Vanuatu: The Vanuatu Ministry of Health has officially declared an outbreak of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in Tanna Island, Tafea Province on 18 August 2025. As of 28 August 2025, 88 suspected cases have been reported from Tanna Island, Tafea Province and 1 from Shefa Province, resulting in 3 infant deaths, with a case fatality rate of 3.4%. Out of the 8 clinical samples sent to Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), 7 have tested positive for Bordetella pertussis. All confirmed cases are among children under five who are either unvaccinated or have not finished their scheduled vaccinations, highlighting the critical need to increase immunization coverage and ensure all vaccinations are up to date. The Ministry has activated national and provincial Health Emergency Operations Centres to coordinate a swift and effective response. Provincial and National Public Health teams have actively engaged communities to encourage vaccination, especially targeting children aged 0–5 and those who missed routine immunizations. Efforts included consistent messaging through briefings, mass media campaigns, community outreach, and immunization drives at public events and door-to-door, focusing on hotspot areas with suspected whooping cough cases. Collaborative strategies involved mobilizing local leaders, providing educational materials, training healthcare workers, and promoting early health-seeking behaviour and hygiene to contain the spread in cases and improve vaccination coverage. The Ministry is working closely with partners including UNICEF, WHO, the Vanuatu Australia Health Program (VAHP), and Vanuatu Broadcasting Television Corporation (VBTC) to raise public awareness and promote immunization. Risk Communication and Community Engagement teams are working with provincial teams in distributing educational materials and engaging communities through media and outreach activities. The red alert for pertussis is maintained. – Sources: Vanuatu is currently facing an outbreak of pertussis,and Press Release - Pertussis Outbreak Situation #2 accessed on 2 September 2025.
Other Information:
Measles
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Australia: As of 27 August 2025, Queensland Health confirmed a measles case in a person who visited several public places in Brisbane, Yamanto, and Boonah while infectious. People who were at these locations on the specified dates and times mentioned in the Queensland Health website may have been exposed. The public is urged to monitor for symptoms as it can appear up to three weeks after exposure and consult a GP if symptoms develop. In New South Wales (NSW), NSW Health has also confirmed a measles case involving a person who was infectious while visiting several sites across Sydney. The case had recently returned from South-East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. – Source: Measles alert for the West Moreton region and Measles alert for Sydney accessed on 2 September 2025.
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Canada: In Canada, for EpiWeek 33 (10 – 16 August 2025) there has been 81 new measles cases (79 confirmed and 2 probable) bringing the total to 4,718 cases (4,389 confirmed, 329 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, Manitoba, and Ontario. – Source: Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report accessed on 2 September 2025.
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Hawaii: The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) has detected measles virus in a wastewater sample collected on 11 August 2025 in West Hawai’i County, marking the first wastewater detection of the virus in the state. Although no suspected cases have been reported as of 27 August, the finding has prompted heightened surveillance and a medical advisory to healthcare providers. Authorities emphasise the importance of MMR vaccination, especially for infants and those travelling to outbreak-affected areas.– Source: Measles virus detected at wastewater sampling site in West Hawai'i County accessed on 2 September 2025.
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United States: In the United States, the CDC reported a total of 1,408 measles cases across 43 U.S. jurisdictions, as of 26 August with 86% of these cases linked to thirty-five outbreaks. The majority of cases are among unvaccinated individuals (92%), and 13% of the cases have resulted in hospitalization. There have been three confirmed deaths. The 43 jurisdictions that have reported measles cases are as follows, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 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: Measles Cases and Outbreaks accessed on 2 September 2025.