Outbreak overview
-
The Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of dengue fever on March 27th, 2019 following the detection of 3 laboratory confirmed (NS1 Ag/IgM positive) cases at Princess Margaret Hospital on Funafuti.
-
To date there are a total of 476 dengue like illness cases including 211 laboratory confirmed cases.
-
There have been reports of suspected cases from some of the outer islands which are to be confirmed
Morbidity/Mortality
-
During the course of the outbreak, there have been a total of 21 cases hospitalized due to severe dengue with 6 been admitted to ICU care.
-
There have been 2 deaths associated with this current outbreak bringing the case fatality rate to 0.4%.
Demographics
-
About 45% of cases are in the <10 year old age groups
-
female to male ratio of 1:1
Place
- 25% of dengue-like illness cases are from Fakaifou district, 18% from Senala, 12% from Alapi. These areas are the most densely populated areas on Funafuti.
Laboratory
-
DBS samples sent in April to IPNC in New Caledonia confirmed serotype as DENV-1
-
In the process of sending another batch of samples for further serotyping
Outbreak Response
-
Ministry of Health has stepped up its outbreak response efforts with a Dengue Outbreak Response Task Force developed to carefully coordinate the overall response including both public health and clinical management of cases.
-
A Multi-sectoral Dengue Outbreak Response committee was also developed consisting of the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders (Department of Waste, Tuvalu Red Cross Society, Kaupule, Department of Education, National Disaster Management Office) to coordinate the public’s dengue outbreak response programs, focusing on community engagement for vector control.
Public Health Response
-
Risk Communication: messages conveyed to the public through radio (radio spots, talkback shows) posters and pamphlets distributed to the general public
-
Contact tracing and surveys of households for potential mosquito breeding sites
-
Vector control measures
-
larvae control: use of larvicides (Sumilarv 0.5G) to drop into potential breeding sites (open water tanks, gutters etc)
-
adult mosquito control: targeted outdoor vector spraying on Fongafale
-
vector surveillance: part of the KOICA project implemented by WHO currently underway
-