Attachments
Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 22 April 2025:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Niue: As of 14 April 2025, Niue’s Department of Health reported one active COVID-19 case. Health authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, test if symptomatic, and minimise contact if positive. Preventive measures are strongly recommended to reduce community transmission. As the Department of Health continues to monitor the situation, the blue alert for COVID-19 is maintained. – Source: Personal exchanges with country focal person on 29 April 2025*.***
Dengue
- Samoa: As of 21 April 2025, the Ministry of Health reported six lab-confirmed dengue cases in EpiWeek 16; 14 – 20 April 2025, bringing the total confirmed cases to 21 and one reported death since the declaration of the outbreak on 17 April 2025. Most of the cases have been reported at Moto’otua Main Hospital particularly in the Northwest of Upolu with all age groups affected. Currently the dengue serotype is undetermined. The Ministry of Health is actively monitoring the situation, strengthening response efforts, urging the public to take preventive measures against mosquito bites and to seek medical attention if symptoms appear. The red alert for Dengue is maintained. – Source: Samoa Government Page accessed on 29 April 2025.
- Tonga: As of 28 April 2025, the Ministry of Health reported six new dengue cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 588 since the declaration of the Outbreak on 19 February 2025, primarily affecting 10-19-year-olds. Two dengue-related deaths have been reported to date and eight patients are currently hospitalised and in stable condition. Authorities continue case investigations, vector control at hot spot areas 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 #46 (28 April 2025) shared with focal point on 29 April 2025.
- French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 16, 61 new cases (54 confirmed and 7 probable) were reported. Since November 27, 2023, a total of 1,782 cases have been recorded, including 1,603 confirmed and 179 probable cases. Two new hospitalisations were reported in EpiWeek 16. Both the positivity and hospitalisation rates decreased compared to EpiWeek 15. The blue alert for DENV-1 is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°15 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 29 April 2025.
Influenza
-
French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 16, 10 new influenza cases (6 type A, 4 type B) were reported. Among these cases, there were five hospitalisations reported. Since EpiWeek 03, 515 influenza cases were reported (89.7% type A,8.7% type B and 1.6% unknown), with a total of 161 hospitalisations and twelve deaths. Both positivity and hospitalisation rates increased during this reporting period. The blue alert for influenza A is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°15 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 29 April 2025.
-
Niue: On the 26 March 2025, the Niue Health Department declared an outbreak of Influenza A in Niue following an increase in symptomatic cases across multiple age groups and villages. As of 24th April 2025, there have been 74 confirmed cases, eighteen hospitalisations with the highest number of individuals affected in the 11-18 years age group. The Health Department is currently managing the outbreak and advises minimizing social gatherings, wearing masks, practicing good hygiene, staying home if unwell and seeking medical attention for severe symptoms. The red alert for influenza A is maintained. – Source: Niue Influenza A Outbreak Situation Report #3 – 2025 shared on Niue Public Health Division accessed on 29 April 2025.
Pertussis / Whooping cough
-
French Polynesia: Since June 14, 2024, a total of 695 confirmed cases of pertussis have been reported. A total of 23 hospitalisations have been reported since June 14, 2024, and one death was recorded in EpiWeek 46 of 2024 in an infant. Since the last report, four additional cases have been reported. The blue alert is maintained. Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°15 - 2025 shared with PPHSN Coordinating Body focal point on 29 April 2025.
-
New Zealand: As of week ending on 18th April, weekly pertussis cases in New Zealand increased to 56 from 30 in week ending on 11th April, bringing the total reported cases since the beginning of 2025 to 1194. According to the latest report from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), since the start of the national epidemic on 19 October 2024, 2,282 confirmed, probable and suspect cases have been notified. Of these, 191 cases (8.4%) have required hospitalisation with one reported death, with 89 (48.6%) of the 183 cases in infants under 1 year hospitalised. Case numbers and hospitalizations have been significantly lower in the past several weeks with the last peak on the week ending 31 January 2025. However, ESR has noted that New Zealand is still experiencing national epidemic activity. The blue alert is maintained. – Sources: Pertussis dashboard and Pertussis rerport 22 March-18 April 2025 on 29 April 2025.
Typhoid Fever
- Kiribati: As of 12 March 2025, the Health Department reported a confirmed typhoid case. Since then, no new cases have been reported however routine surveillance and testing continue. In total there has been 89 probable cases and 25 confirmed typhoid cases. As a result, the blue alert for typhoid fever is removed. – Source: Personal exchanges with country focal person on 24 April 2025.
Other Information:
Chikungunya
- Réunion Island: The ongoing chikungunya epidemic in Réunion has recorded 39,532 cases and nine deaths linked to chikungunya since the beginning of the year, including 4,304 new cases from April 7 to 13, 2025, this is a decrease in the number of cases from previous week’s 4,913 cases. The health authorities have excluded people over 65 from the chikungunya vaccination campaign after three elderly individuals experienced severe symptoms post-vaccination, with one death. The vaccination campaign which began on April 07 remains available for those aged 18 to 64 with comorbidities. Health Authorities emphasize monitoring for allergic reactions within 72 hours of vaccination and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms occur. Health authorities are urging heightened vigilance for travellers to Réunion, visitors are advised to take preventive measures against mosquito bites, including the use of insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in accommodations with screened windows or air conditioning. Returning travellers may pose a risk of introducing chikungunya to other regions, where Aedes mosquito vectors are present. It is recommended that returning travellers monitor for symptoms (fever, joint pain, rash) for up to two weeks and seek medical attention if symptoms arise. - Sources: Chikungunya : Les autorités sanitaires retirent les personnes de 65 ans et plus des cibles de la campagne de vaccination contre le chikungunya avec le vaccin IXCHIQ à La Réunion et à Mayotte and Chikungunya à La Réunion : semaine du 7 au 13 avril 2025 accessed on 29 April 2025.
Dengue
-
Cook Islands: The Cook Islands Ministry of Health has confirmed four dengue cases in Rarotonga, with no hospitalizations reported. The first case was imported, the 2nd case cannot be determined however, based on the onset of symptoms, it was possibly acquired while overseas, the last two reported cases were acquired locally. The Health Ministry is developing a response plan, and a declaration of an outbreak would follow WHO guidelines. Testing samples are being sent for further testing to determine which dengue serotype the cases have. - Source: Personal exchanges with country focal point and Dengue cases confirmed, key agencies kepy abreast of the situation accessed on 29 April 2025.
-
Kiribati: The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed that dengue fever is currently ongoing in Tarawa and Betio, with 10 confirmed cases. Heavy rainfall and increased communal gatherings are contributing to the spread, and the public is advised to use mosquito nets, repellents, and maintain cleanliness to prevent mosquito breeding. Key symptoms include fever, severe headaches, joint pains, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash, and individuals should seek medical attention if these symptoms appear. - Source: Ministry Of Health & Medical Services-Kiribati media release accessed on 29 April 2025.
Measles
- Australia: In Australia, the Department of Health in Victoria has reported a measles case in a returned traveller who visited Pakistan and was infectious on an Emirates EK 408 flight from Dubai to Melbourne on 24 April 2025. There is currently an increased risk of measles in greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, in addition to the ongoing risk of measles importation in Victoria in travellers returning from overseas. The public who visited these locations from early April have been advised to monitor for symptoms up to 18 days after exposure and to contact their GP if symptoms develop. - Source: New measles case in returned traveller accessed on 29 April 2025.
- Canada: In Canada, for EpiWeek 15 (April 06 – April 12) there has been 189 new measles cases (168 confirmed and 21 probable) bringing the total to 1,069 cases (916 confirmed, 153 probable) across six provinces, the most affected provinces include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. - Source: Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report accessed on 29 April 2025.
- United States: In the United States, the CDC reported a total of 884 measles cases across 30 U.S. jurisdictions, as of April 24, with 93% of these cases linked to eleven outbreaks. The majority of cases are among unvaccinated individuals, and 11% of the cases have resulted in hospitalization. There have been three confirmed deaths. The 30 jurisdictions that have reported measles cases are as follows, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. - Sources: Measles Cases and Outbreaks accessed on 22 April 2025.