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Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 28 March 2023

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Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 21 February 2023:

  • Please note, the attached document contains the map with the current alerts, and details of the below report on the second page.

  • Circulation of several vaccine preventable diseases have been reported in the region – we recommend consulting your medical practitioner to ensure you are up to date with routine vaccinations.

Leptospirosis:

  • Vanuatu: As of 22 March 2023, 2 new Leptospirosis cases were reported between the 17 to 22 March 2023, bringing the total to 40 leptospirosis cases recorded since the beginning of the year. Additionally, 2 more deaths were reported during the 17 to 22 March 2023, taking the total deaths to 5. – Situation update 02 (report Date: 23 March 2023; Covering Period from the 2nd January to 22 March 2023).

Dengue fever:

  • Tuvalu: On the 21st of January, a dengue case was diagnosed from a serum sample, subtype NS1 antigen. As a result, a public health investigation surrounding the case was triggered. As of the 13 March a total of 243 individuals were tested for dengue. Of those 25 had a positive test result. Consequently, a red alert is added. – Source: Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Gender Affairs; Tuvalu Dengue Situation Report #1 (Epidemiological week 10 (6 – 12 March)).

Typhoid fever:

  • Tuvalu: As of 12 March, Salmonella typhi/paratyphi has not been detected in any blood, stool or water specimens tested. As a result, the grey alert for Typhoid fever is removed. – Source: Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Gender Affairs; Tuvalu Typhoid Situation Report #5 (Epidemiological week 10 (6 – 12 March)).

Influenza A & B and Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI):

  • New Caledonia: As of 28 March 2023,a total of 164 influenza A and B were reported. Out of the 164, 17 were diagnosed with influenza B and 147 with influenza A. The data from the sentinel network shows that more than one in ten patients who visit general practitioners are consulting for an acute respiratory infection. As a result, a red alert for Influenza A & B is added. – Source: The Sentinel Network of New Caledonia and the Medipole Laboratory through the DASS-NC on the 28 March 2023.

  • Fiji: As of 19 March 2023, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed that Influenza B is the predominant influenza strain in circulation and is likely the cause of the surge of ILI cases being experienced. As a result, the alert for Influenza A is changed to Influenza A & B. – Source: PRESS RELEASE – MINISTRY OF HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES accessed on 28 March 2023.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

  • Australia: Over the last week, 23,182 cases of COVID-19 were reported across Australia, an average of 3,312 cases per day. – Source: Department of Health, Australian Government accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI): As of 18 March 2023, a total of 13,747 COVID-19 cases and **42 **deaths were reported by CNMI. – Source: CNMI Weekly Syndromic Surveillance Report (Epi Week 11; Epi Week Date: March 12 –March 19, 2023).

  • Cook Islands: As of 13 March 2023, a total of 7,033 COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths were reported by Cook Islands Ministry of Health.– Source: COVID-19 - Cook Island Response accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): As of 19 March 2023, a total of 25,703 COVID-19 cases and 63 deaths were reported by the FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs.The majority of the cases were reported in Yap State with n=396 cases. – Source: FSM Surveillance (Report WK 11; Mar 13 – Mar 19, 2023).

  • Fiji: As of 23 March 2023, a total of 68,911 COVID-19 cases and 883 deaths were reported in Fiji. – Source: PRESS RELEASE – MINISTRY OF HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • French Polynesia: As of 19 March 2023, a total of 78,375 COVID-19 cases and 650 deaths were reported in French Polynesia. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire Polynésie Française n° 11 – 2023.

  • Guam: As of 27 March 2023, a total of 61,139 COVID-19 cases and 415 deaths were reported by Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS). – Source: COVID-19 Surveillance Summary & Situation Report 27 March 2023.

  • Hawaii: As of 22 March 2023, a total of 381,570 COVID-19 cases and 1,854 deaths were reported by Hawaii Department of Health*. *– Source: State of Hawaii, Department of Health accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Kiribati: As of 01 March 2023, a total of 5,014 COVID-19 confirmed community cases and 18 deaths were reported by Kiribati Government. – Source: Personal communication with country officials on 03 March 2023.

  • Nauru: As of 05 March 2023, a total of 5,393 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 1 death has been reported by the Nauru Government. – Source: Weekly COVID epidemiological report for Nauru accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • New Caledonia: As of 15 March2023, a total of 80,032 COVID-19 cases and 314 deaths were reported by the New Caledonia Government. –Source: Actualité Covid-19 | Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • New Zealand: As of 27 March 2023, a total of 2,262,186 COVID-19 cases and 2,662 deaths were reported by New Zealand Ministry of Health.– Source : New Zealand Ministry of Health accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Niue: As of 26 March 2023, a total of 797 COVID-19 cases and no death were reported by the Niue Government.– Source: Niue Government accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Palau: As of 21 March 2023, a total of 5,997 COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths were reported by the Republic of Palau. – Source: Ministry of Health & Human Services - Republic of Palau accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Papua New Guinea: As of 21 March 2023, a total of 46,829 COVID-19 cases and 670 deaths were reported in PNG.– Source: Papua New Guinea Government accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Republic of Marshall Island (RMI): As of 14 March 2023, a total of 15,723 COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths were reported by RMI Ministry of Health and Human Services. – Source: RMI Communicable Disease Weekly Report – Ministry of Health and Human Services.

  • Samoa: As of 19 March 2023, a total of 16,735 COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths were reported by the Samoan Government. – Source: SAMOA COVID-19 Situational Report – Government of Samoa accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Tonga: As of 19 March 2023, a total of 16,814 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths have been reported by Tonga Ministry of Health.– Source: Tonga COVID19 Surveillance Weekly Report Update 2023. (Week11 13.03.2023 – 19.03.2023).

  • Vanuatu: As of 20 February 2023, a total of 12,025 COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths were reported by the Ministry of Health. – Source: Weekly Epidemiological update: COVID-19 in Vanuatu, (13 to 19 February 2023).

COVID-19 Vaccination:

  • As of 27 March 2023., a total of 2,817,285 of the 1st dose; 2,483,864 of the 2nd dose; and 852,198 of the first booster dose have been administered in all 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

MORE information and data visualization products on COVID-19 morbidity, mortality and vaccination in the Pacific Islands can be accessed on SPC website at https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/2021/03/covid-19-pacific-community-updates.

Outside of the Pacific

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

Mpox (Monkeypox):

  • Multi-country outbreak of monkeypox: Since1st January 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 110 Member States across all 6 WHO regions. As of 21 March 2023, a total of 86,646 laboratory confirmed cases and 1,086 probable cases, including 112 deaths, have been reported to WHO. – Source: WHO, 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak accessed on 28 March 2023.

Other information:

  • Australia: As of 24 March 2023, the government of South Australia reported the first case of measles since 2019. The patient is a 3-year-old male from the South Australia who acquired the infection overseas. – Source: Measles case in South Australia | SA Health accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Australia: As of 27 March 2023, a second case of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) was recorded by the Ministry of Health New South Wales (NSW). The patient was infected between late January and mid-February 2023, and most likely exposed to the virus at home but had exposures across southern NSW. This brings to a total of 6 cases of Murray Valley encephalitis in Australia of which 3 were recorded in Victoria 2 in NSW and 1 in Northern Territory, and 2 deaths. – Source: Second case of Murray Valley encephalitis detected in NSW this season - Newsaccessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI): As of 18 March 2023, one case of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) has been reported in a patient requiring hospital admission for 7 days. Source: Personal communication with country official on 23 March 2023

  • Fiji: As of 27 March 2023, 100 confirmed Tuberculosis cases have been registered at Twomey Hospital, Suva Fiji. In March there have been 3 confirmed cases resistant to isoniazid and rifampin. – Source: FBC News accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • New Zealand: As of 22 March 2023, there had been 8 whooping cough cases recorded since the beginning of the year 2023. Three children were hospitalised and 2 babies under one year old died from whooping cough. – Source: RNZ News accessed on 28 March 2023.

  • Palau: As of 26 March 2023, an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease has been declared by the Ministry of Health & Human Services. From week 7 until week 12, 37 cases have been recorded. – Source: Situation Report Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Outbreak (Epi Week 12: Mar 20 – 26, 2023).

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