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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 25 March 2025

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Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 18 March 2025:

Dengue

  • Tonga: As of 25 March 2025, the Ministry of Health reported nine new dengue cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases to 348 since the declaration of the Outbreak on 19 February 2025, primarily affecting 10-19-year-olds. Four 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 #34 (25 March 2025) shared on PacNet on 25 March 2025.

  • Fiji: The Health Ministry has reported a dengue death from the Northern Division. The 23-year-old male succumbed to dengue fever after not seeking medical attention. The Ministry declared a dengue fever outbreak in the Western Division on the 03 February and launched targeted interventions, including house-to-house surveillance and mosquito control measures. 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: Personal exchanges with country focal person on 25 March 2025.

  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 11, 63 new cases (55 confirmed, 08 probable) were reported. The total number of reported cases is 1384 (1255 confirmed cases and 129 probable cases) since November 27, 2023. In EpiWeek 11, three new hospitalisations were reported. The positivity rate increased since EpiWeek 07 with a slight decrease in this current EpiWeek. The blue alert for DENV-1 is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°11 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 25 March 2025.

Influenza

  • French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 11, 14 new influenza cases (13 type A, 1 type B) were reported. Among these cases, there were five hospitalisations reported. Since EpiWeek 03, 450 influenza cases were reported (422 type A and 21 type B), with a total of 137 hospitalisations and eleven deaths. All indicators have been decreasing for the third consecutive week. The red alert is changed to a blue alert for influenza A. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°11 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 25 March 2025.

Pertussis / Whooping cough

  • French Polynesia: Since June 14, 2024, 688 confirmed cases of pertussis have been reported. Pertussis activity continues in EpiWeek 11 with the positivity rates showing an increase in trend during this reporting period. A total of 23 hospitalisations were reported since 14 June 2024, 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°11 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 25 March 2025.

  • New Caledonia: As of 21 March 2025, 215 cases of pertussis have been reported since April 2024, out of 1,440 samples tested. In 2025, 44 new cases have been reported with 32 cases recorded in January, ten cases in February and two cases reported in this current month, on the 08 March 2025*.* The blue alert is maintained. – Source : Coqueluche | Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales de Nouvelle-Calédonie accessed on 25 March 2025.

  • New Zealand: In EpiWeek 11 (week ending March 14, 2025), weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand increased to 62 from 50 in EpiWeek 10, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 948. A national pertussis epidemic was declared on 22 November 2024 following an increase in cases throughout New Zealand beginning on 19 October 2024. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Pertussis dashboard accessed on 25 March 2025.

  • Samoa: As of 16 March 2025, a total of 418 pertussis cases (24 confirmed and 394 suspected) have been reported by Samoa's Ministry of Health between EpiWeek 46 (2024) and EpiWeek 11 (2025). The calculated cumulative incidence rate is 203.4 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°16 (EpiWeek 11: 10 – 16 March 2025) shared to PPHSN Focal Point on 21 March 2025.

Other Information:

Avian Influenza

  • Cambodia: In Cambodia’s Kratie province, a 3.5-year-old child has been confirmed with H5N1 avian influenza after being hospitalized in critical condition. The child's family had raised chickens, some of which were sick or dead, and had consumed the dead chickens. This is the third human case of H5N1 in Cambodia in 2025, prompting health officials to investigate and remind citizens to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms arise. - Source: Cambodia reports a H5N1 avian influenza case in Kratie province child accessed on 25 March 2025.

Chikungunya

Dengue

  • Queensland: Queensland Health is managing a dengue outbreak in Townsville City. One new locally acquired case of dengue was notified in a Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) resident during the reporting period of 12 March 2025. This case is closely related to previously reported dengue virus type 2 cases in the area. As of 25 March 2025, there are nine reported cases of dengue in Townsville City - Source: Notifiable conditions reports: Summary information and Dengue outbreaks accessed on 25 March 2025.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

  • Australia: An HPAI H7 (bird flu) outbreak has been confirmed at 4 poultry properties in Northern Victoria near Euroa. CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong confirmed a high pathogenicity strain of H7N8. This is a new outbreak that is not related to the 2024 outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory which were successfully eradicated. A restriction area with a radius of about 5km is in place around the infected properties. This is a part of the Goulburn Valley Freeway. The goal is to prevent movements that could spread the virus. To date there has been no human infection associated with this poultry outbreaks. Townships impacted include Euroa, Violet Town, Longwood, Ruffy, Avenel and Strathbogie. - Source: Media release [Avian influenza (bird flu)](https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu#:~:text=Current%20situation,-Last%20updated%2018&text=H7%20avian%20influenza%20(bird%20flu,Strathbogie) accessed on 25 March 2025.

Measles Situation Update and precautionary recommendations
PICTs are at increased risk of measles importation due to ongoing outbreaks in neighbouring regions and strengthened travel connections with measles-affected countries. Countries such as Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan have reported confirmed measles cases. Australia has recorded 57 measles cases in 2024 and 28 cases in the first three months of 2025, with links to outbreaks in the US and Southeast Asia. Authorities are particularly concerned about under-vaccinated populations in some states. Vietnam has reported approximately 40,000 suspected measles cases since the start of 2025, with five related deaths, predominantly affecting the Southern region. Japan recorded 22 measles cases between week 1 and week 10 of 2025, with 15 cases linked to international travel, notably from Vietnam. Additionally, health authorities in Perth, Australia, have issued a measles health alert following a confirmed case linked to a traveller returning from Pakistan.

Given these developments, public health professionals are urged to strengthen acute fever and rash (AFR) surveillance through the Hospital-based Active Surveillance for AFR and the Pacific Syndromic Surveillance System (PSSS). Additionally, they should ensure vaccination coverage meets the recommended threshold for herd immunity (>95%), enhance awareness and surveillance at points of entry, and encourage preventive measures for patients and suspected cases. For further details on laboratory referral networks and surveillance guidance, please refer to the Pacific Outbreak Manual 2016 and the PPHSN LabNet Catalogue - 2024 Edition - Sources: Measles situation in Vietnam in early 2025, meas25-10, Measles was eliminated from Australia. Experts warn US and Asia outbreaks may bring back this ‘heat-seeking missile’ | Vaccines and immunisation | The Guardian & Department of Health issues measles health alert for the Western Australian public accessed on 25 March 2025.

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