Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 11June 2024 – World

Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 4 June 2024:

Dengue

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 22, one new dengue case was confirmed out of 34 samples tested. As of 06 June, two new cases were reported in EpiWeek 23, bringing the total number of reported cases to 55 (48 confirmed cases and 7 probable cases) since 27 November 2023. There were no deaths or hospitalisations reported during this period. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°22 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 08 June 2024.
• Samoa: In EpiWeek 22, 17 new lab-confirmed dengue cases were reported bringing the total to 418 since November 2023. No dengue-related death was reported during this period. The most affected age groups are children under 10 years old and adults over 60 years old. The North-West of Upolu (NWU) and Apia Urban Area (AUA) are the most affected areas. Serotype results are still pending. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Samoa Ministry of Health Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report #14, EpiWeek 22 – Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report in Samoa – Government of Samoa (samoagovt.ws) accessed on 11 June 2024.

Influenza A

• Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Island (CNMI): In EpiWeek 22, CNMI reported a decrease in ILI cases from 60 in EpiWeek 21 to 30 in EpiWeek 22, marking a 59% decrease compared to the previous three weeks. Testing confirmed 1 case of Influenza A, 3 cases of Pneumonia, 1 case of Bronchitis, 7 cases of Streptococcus and 11 cases of Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). Following two weeks of decrease in the number of reported Influenza A cases the red alert is changed to a blue alert. – Source: CNMI Weekly Surveillance Report 2024 – EPI Week 22 shared to PPHSN focal point on 06 June 2024.
• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 22, there were 31 new confirmed cases (30 cases of influenza A and 1 case of Influenza B) out of 111 tests conducted. Among the reported cases, 12 were hospitalised, including 2 in the ICU. Since April 1, there have been 333 confirmed influenza cases, with 153 requiring hospitalisation and 8 deaths. 21 samples sent by the French Polynesia Hospital Center (“Centre Hospitalier Polynésie Française”, CHPF) to the reference laboratory in France correspond to the A/H3N2 subtype for 14 of the samples. Note that the clade identified does not match the strains of the Northern Hemisphere vaccine composition 2023-2024. Following two weeks of decrease in the number of reported Influenza A cases the red alert is changed to a blue alert. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°22 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 08 June 2024.

Other Information:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• Australia: Over the past few weeks, an increased number of COVID-19 cases have been reported in Australian Capital Territory (06 June 2024), New South Wales (01 June 2024), Queensland (02 June 2024), South Australia (07 June 2024) and Tasmania (07 June 2024). COVID-19 Whole Genome Sequencing data from NSW indicates an increasing prevalence of KP.2, KP.3, and KW.1.1, which are sub-lineages of JN.1, currently named “FLiRT” variants and classified as variants under monitoring (VUM) by WHO. – Sources: ACT COVID-19 statistics – COVID-19, NSW respiratory surveillance – COVID-19 and influenza – COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Acute respiratory infection surveillance reporting | Queensland Health, COVID-19 dashboard | SA Health, Weekly update – acute respiratory infection activity in Tasmania | Tasmanian Department of Health accessed on 11 June 2024
• Hawai’i: From 28 May to 03 June, 1,179 additional COVID-19 cases have been reported. The data indicates an increase from 10.5% to 14.7% average test positivity rate and 144 average daily COVID-19 cases statewide over the 7-day period. There are daily averages of 96 hospitalisations, six patients in ICU beds and 3 reported deaths. The 7-day average daily cases have increased in the four counties. – Source: Disease Outbreak Control Division | COVID-19 | State of Hawai’i – Department of Health (hawaii.gov) accessed on 11 June 2024

Dengue

• Australia, Queensland: As of 3 June 2024, 19 dengue cases contracted on Mer Island in the Torres Strait Island Regional local government area were reported in EpiWeek 21, bringing the total number of cases for the outbreak to 23 cases. Five of these cases were identified as dengue type 3, while the serotypes for the remaining cases have not been determined. – Source: Notifiable conditions reports: Summary information | Queensland Health accessed on 11 June 2024.
• New Zealand: In EpiWeek 23, three arbovirus cases (2 dengue fever cases (one confirmed, one under investigation) and 1 chikungunya case) were reported in New Zealand. The confirmed cases had travelled to Thailand during the incubation period. The probable chikungunya case had travelled to Indonesia. There is no dengue or chikungunya vector in New Zealand, so this figure does not reflect a New Zealand-related risk but rather a risk to New Zealand travellers. – Source: NZ Arbovirus Notifications by Country (23: 01/06/2024 – 07/06/2024) report shared with PPHSN focal point by ESR on 10 June 2024.
• Tonga: In EpiWeek 22, three dengue cases were reported by the Ministry of Health. The three cases were tested NS1 positive and are still under investigation. Community outreach and awareness activities are underway. – Source: Weekly Communicable Diseases Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiological Week 22 (27/05/2024 – 02/06/2024) report shared with PPHSN focal point on 05 June 2024.

Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus

• Australia, New South Wales: In EpiWeek 22, influenza activity is rising, with emergency department admissions and test positivity increasing to 9.6%, while Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains high despite a decline among the youngest children. The highest notification rates for RSV and influenza are in younger age groups, and pertussis and pneumonia are unusually high among school-aged children. – Source: NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report – week ending 01 June 2024 – NSW respiratory surveillance – COVID-19 and influenza – COVID-19 (Coronavirus) accessed on 11 June 2024.
• Wallis and Futuna: In EpiWeek 21, Rhinovirus/enterovirus circulation has been observed since mid-March to mid-May. An actual RSV outbreak is being monitored by the Health Agency since EpiWeek 20 following a sharp increase in the number of hospitalisations (27) related to the co-circulation of respiratory viruses including rhinovirus/enterovirus/RSV. The average age of hospitalised cases is 14 years old. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance épidémiologique 04/2024 – Semaines 17/2024 à 21/2024 (Données du 25/04/2024 au 26/05/2024) shared with PPHSN focal point on 10 June 2024.