Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 16 July 2024 – World

Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 09 July 2024:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• Hawai’i: From 2 to 8 July, 1,089 additional COVID-19 cases have been reported. The data indicates a decrease from 16.1% to 14.7% average test positivity rate and 144 average daily COVID-19 cases statewide over the 7-day period. An average of 105 hospitalisations were reported between 4 to 10 July. Additionally, there were seven patients in ICU beds and one reported death. The Department of Health Respiratory Disease Dashboard shows that COVID-19 activity has decreased to a medium level. Consequently, following two weeks of decreasing average daily COVID-19 cases, average test positivity rate and the downgrading of the activity level, the red alert for COVID-19 is changed to blue. – Source: Disease Outbreak Control Division | COVID-19 | State of Hawai’i – Department of Health (hawaii.gov) accessed on 16 July 2024.

Dengue

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 27, seven new dengue cases were confirmed out of 52 samples tested. As of July 10, no additional case was reported in EpiWeek 28, bringing the total number of reported cases to 77 (70 confirmed cases and 7 probable cases) since November 27, 2023. Among the last reported cases, no new hospitalizations or deaths have been reported. The majority of cases live in Tahiti (62.3%). Since EpiWeek 25, four indigenous cases have been reported from residents of Nuku-Hiva (in the Marquesas archipelago) and one from a Tahiti resident who had visited Nuku-Hiva, all serotyped as DENV-1. The alert phase continues with active transmission of the virus in Tahiti, Moorea, and Nuku-Hiva, and since May 1, 2024, twelve cases have been exported to France, confirming the active circulation of the virus in French Polynesia. Since November 27, 2023, among the 54 serotyped samples, DENV-2 has been identified in 85% of the cases. The blue alert is maintained. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°27 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 13 July 2024.
• Samoa: In EpiWeek 27, 12 new lab-confirmed dengue cases were reported, bringing the total to 468 since November 2023. No hospitalisation or death were reported during this period. The most affected age group is 20 to 29 years. 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 #18, EpiWeek 27 from Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report in SamoaEpi-week 27: 01—07 July 2024 Issue No.19 – Government of Samoa (samoagovt.ws) accessed on 16 July 2024.

Influenza A

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 27, there were three new confirmed cases (3 cases of Influenza A and 0 case of Influenza B) out of 93 tests conducted. Among the reported cases, one was hospitalised. Since April 1st, there have been 378 confirmed influenza cases, with 173 requiring hospitalisation and 10 reported deaths. The end of the epidemic is confirmed; as a result the blue alert is removed. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°27 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 13 July 2024.

Typhoid Fever

• Kiribati: In EpiWeek 24, the Ministry of Health and Medical Service of Kiribati reported the a typhoid case. On June 13, the Ministry confirmed a typhoid outbreak. By EpiWeek 27, 75 cases had been diagnosed, with 13 testing positives for typhoid fever, referred from Tungaru Central Hospital laboratory, and confirmed at Microbiological Diagnostic Unit – Public Health Laboratory, Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia. No clusters have been identified yet; the cases are spread throughout the main island, with no cases reported from the outer islands. A red alert is added. – Source: Typhoid Outbreak Situation Report (3) shared with PPHSN focal point on 10 July 2024.

Other Information:

Acute Gastroenteritis and food poisoning

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 27, a foodborne illness outbreak was reported, affecting 43 people who consumed smoked chicken and rice salad, with five requiring short hospitalisations. The chicken was cooked by a caterer and then repackaged by another individual who also prepared the rice salad, and subsequent analysis indicated contamination by Bacillus cereus toxin, particularly fostered in due to improper food storage and refridgeration. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°27 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 13 July 2024.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• French Polynesia: In EpiWeek 27, 12 new COVID-19 cases were reported out of 81 tests conducted. The number of confirmed cases and the positivity rate (14.8%) for COVID-19 increased compared to the previous week, with two hospitalisations reported but no ICU admission. The situation is being closely monitored, as a new epidemic wave seems to be starting. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°27 -2024 shared with PPHSN focal point on 13 July 2024.

Influenza

Pertussis

• Australia: In EpiWeek 27, the Department of Health in Victoria issued a health advisory about increase in pertussis cases, particularly among school-aged children. The number of infections in 2024 has quadrupled compared to the entire year of 2023, with similar increases observed in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD). Children aged 10-12 years make up over one-third of all reported cases, indicating a significant impact on this age group. – Source: Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria | health.vic.gov.au accessed on 16 July 2024.
• New Zealand: In EpiWeek 28, the total number of pertussis cases (including confirmed, probable, and suspected) reached 14 cases compared to 3 cases in EpiWeek 27. Since March 2024, monthly pertussis cases have been rising, from 16 cases in March to 83 cases reported in June. The primary affected age group is 5 to 14 years old. It is noted that pertussis activity in New Zealand has returned to pre-pandemic baseline levels, averaging about 80 cases per month during non-epidemic periods. Source: Pertussis dashboard (esr.cri.nz) accessed on 16 July 2024.