'Biggest number we've had': Pacific dengue cases highest in a decade
Photo:
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Dengue cases in the Pacific are at their highest since 2016, with nearly 19,000 people affected, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.
The new figures come as multiple nations in the region grapple with outbreaks and surging case numbers.
Just last week, Samoa confirmed a second child with the disease had died this year. Overall, nine dengue-related deaths have been reported across the region.
WHO's Pacific Techincal Support director Dr Mark Jacobs told
Pacific Waves
that July regional data showed the number of suspected dengue cases was at 18,766 - the highest since 2016.
"We've been seeing a gradual increase in dengue in the Pacific for at least the last couple of decades. But looking at the last 10 years, what we tend to see is peaks in some years and then lower levels in other years.
"This year, so far, we're up to two more than 18,000 suspected cases of dengue….that's the biggest number that we've had certainly in the last 10 years.
Of those, 12,040 were laboratory-confirmed cases.
Jacobs said the high case numbers were due to a range of factors, including the movement of people between Pacific nations.
"The virus that causes dengue fever basically lives in people and lives in mosquitoes. And so for a lot of the…smaller Pacific countries, they haven't got enough people for the virus to keep on circulating all the time.
"What tends to happen in those…Pacific countries is, if there's an outbreak somewhere else in the Pacific, or somewhere where there's people moving to and from, someone might come into that country from another country [where] they've already been infected…and bring the virus back."
Climate change and shifting weather patterns in the region also increased the risk around dengue spread, he said. The lack of understanding around dengue hot-spots was another risk factor.
"It's actually most common in urban settings and semi-urban settings, so towns and villages where there's quite a few people living. [That's where] the mosquito is very comfortable living - in and around people's houses."
A breakdown of the WHO July data, showed spread of the disease had been highest in Fiji, which had 13,702 suspected cases, followed by Tonga (2087) and French Polynesia or Mā'ohi Nui (1079).
The data also showed numbers appeared to have peaked in March. However, in recent months, there had been a resurgence in spread of the virus. In particular, it had been found in previously unaffected nations like American Sāmoa, Nauru and Tuvalu.
Jacobs said the four different strains of dengue also added to challenges around preventing spread and illness. This was because immunity to dengue was generally dependent on individual strains.
"If you've been infected in the past with type one dengue, then you're unlikely to get that sort of dengue again," he said.
"But if…a different strain of the of the dengue virus comes into the country some years later - dengue type two for instance - then all the people who've been infected with type one before, who've been protected against getting type one again, they could all get type two."
Jacobs said that transmission pattern often triggered big outbreaks. It also contributed to more severe illness from dengue.
"If somebody's had dengue more than once, in other words, if they've had it with a couple of the different strains a few years apart, they're the people most likely to get really, really severely ill with dengue.
"And so we see more of the severe dengue, more complications of dengue in those people."
In Samoa, the acting director-general of health Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen said the government was prioritising mosquito spraying of areas and buildings where people gathered in its response.
These included schools and sites like the Victim Support centre and National University of Sāmoa, he said.
Tangaloa confirmed the recent dengue-related death was an eight-year-old girl. She died on Sunday 13 July. Misiafa Lene, 12, died in April after contracting dengue.
As of 13 July, the number of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases was 1276 in Samoa.
"For the past three weeks - excluding this week - we've seen an increase of about 100 confirmed cases per week," Tagaloa said.
"Our biggest challenge at the moment…is the paediatric age group - children below 15 years of age. [They] appear to be the ones that are mostly affected."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
Voices For Visibility: Marking World Head And Neck Cancer Day In Aotearoa New Zealand
Each year on July 27, World Head and Neck Cancer Day brings global attention to one of the most complex and under-recognised groups of cancers. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust is calling for greater visibility, earlier detection, and improved care for people affected by these challenging cancers. Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nose, and salivary glands. While they represent only about 4% of all cancers in New Zealand, their impact is far greater. Treatments often involve disfiguring surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—or all three—leaving patients with lifelong difficulties in speaking, swallowing, breathing, and eating. And yet, despite these challenges, the voices of those affected are often lost in our health system. A Growing Need for Change In recent years, we have seen an increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, particularly in younger people. At the same time, oral cancers continue to disproportionately affect older adults and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Māori patients often face worse outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to services. Despite advancements in treatment, our health system is struggling to provide timely and equitable care. Patients report delays in diagnosis, and insufficient support during survivorship. As one survivor told us, "You're patched up, but you're not put back together." We can do better. What We're Asking For The Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust believes that every New Zealander affected by head and neck cancer deserves: Timely, accurate diagnosis Coordinated multidisciplinary care Access to clinical nurse specialists and rehabilitation services Culturally appropriate support for Māori and Pacific patients A national action plan for head and neck cancer We also call for increased awareness in the general public and among primary care clinicians. Early detection saves lives—but only if people know what to look for. Persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, unexplained mouth sores or lumps in the neck should never be ignored. Our Work The Trust is a national patient-led charity working to improve outcomes through advocacy, peer support, and education. We maintain online forums, connect patients with resources, and collaborate with clinicians to improve care. Most importantly, we listen to and amplify the lived experiences of survivors, carers, and whānau. On World Head and Neck Cancer Day, we honour their strength—and we recommit to fighting for a system that sees them, hears them, and heals them. What You Can Do Learn the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer Share our resources with your networks Talk to your GP if something doesn't feel right Support our work at Together, we can bring head and neck cancer out of the shadows—and ensure no one faces it alone.
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
'Biggest Number We've Had': Pacific Dengue Cases Highest In A Decade
Dengue cases in the Pacific are at their highest since 2016, with nearly 19,000 people affected, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says. The new figures come as multiple nations in the region grapple with outbreaks and surging case numbers. Just last week, Samoa confirmed a second child with the disease had died this year. Overall, nine dengue-related deaths have been reported across the region. WHO's Pacific Techincal Support director Dr Mark Jacobs told Pacific Waves that July regional data showed the number of suspected dengue cases was at 18,766 - the highest since 2016. "We've been seeing a gradual increase in dengue in the Pacific for at least the last couple of decades. But looking at the last 10 years, what we tend to see is peaks in some years and then lower levels in other years. "This year, so far, we're up to two more than 18,000 suspected cases of dengue….that's the biggest number that we've had certainly in the last 10 years. Of those, 12,040 were laboratory-confirmed cases. Jacobs said the high case numbers were due to a range of factors, including the movement of people between Pacific nations. "The virus that causes dengue fever basically lives in people and lives in mosquitoes. And so for a lot of the…smaller Pacific countries, they haven't got enough people for the virus to keep on circulating all the time. "What tends to happen in those…Pacific countries is, if there's an outbreak somewhere else in the Pacific, or somewhere where there's people moving to and from, someone might come into that country from another country [where] they've already been infected…and bring the virus back." Climate change and shifting weather patterns in the region also increased the risk around dengue spread, he said. The lack of understanding around dengue hot-spots was another risk factor. "It's actually most common in urban settings and semi-urban settings, so towns and villages where there's quite a few people living. [That's where] the mosquito is very comfortable living - in and around people's houses." A breakdown of the WHO July data, showed spread of the disease had been highest in Fiji, which had 13,702 suspected cases, followed by Tonga (2087) and French Polynesia or Mā'ohi Nui (1079). The data also showed numbers appeared to have peaked in March. However, in recent months, there had been a resurgence in spread of the virus. In particular, it had been found in previously unaffected nations like American Sāmoa, Nauru and Tuvalu. Jacobs said the four different strains of dengue also added to challenges around preventing spread and illness. This was because immunity to dengue was generally dependent on individual strains. "If you've been infected in the past with type one dengue, then you're unlikely to get that sort of dengue again," he said. "But if…a different strain of the of the dengue virus comes into the country some years later - dengue type two for instance - then all the people who've been infected with type one before, who've been protected against getting type one again, they could all get type two." Jacobs said that transmission pattern often triggered big outbreaks. It also contributed to more severe illness from dengue. "If somebody's had dengue more than once, in other words, if they've had it with a couple of the different strains a few years apart, they're the people most likely to get really, really severely ill with dengue. "And so we see more of the severe dengue, more complications of dengue in those people." 'About 100 confirmed cases per week' in Samoa In Samoa, the acting director-general of health Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen said the government was prioritising mosquito spraying of areas and buildings where people gathered in its response. These included schools and sites like the Victim Support centre and National University of Sāmoa, he said. Tangaloa confirmed the recent dengue-related death was an eight-year-old girl. She died on Sunday 13 July. Misiafa Lene, 12, died in April after contracting dengue. As of 13 July, the number of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases was 1276 in Samoa. "For the past three weeks - excluding this week - we've seen an increase of about 100 confirmed cases per week," Tagaloa said. "Our biggest challenge at the moment…is the paediatric age group - children below 15 years of age. [They] appear to be the ones that are mostly affected."
NZ Herald
19 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Dengue cases surge in Pacific, highest since 2016 says WHO
'We've been seeing a gradual increase in dengue in the Pacific for at least the last couple of decades. But looking at the last 10 years, what we tend to see is peaks in some years and then lower levels in other years. 'This year, so far, we're up to two more than 18,000 suspected cases of dengue ... that's the biggest number that we've had certainly in the last 10 years. Of those, 12,040 were laboratory-confirmed cases. Jacobs said the high case numbers were due to a range of factors, including the movement of people between Pacific nations. 'The virus that causes dengue fever basically lives in people and lives in mosquitoes. And so for a lot of the ... smaller Pacific countries, they haven't got enough people for the virus to keep on circulating all the time. 'What tends to happen in those ... Pacific countries is, if there's an outbreak somewhere else in the Pacific, or somewhere where there's people moving to and from, someone might come into that country from another country [where] they've already been infected ... and bring the virus back.' Climate change and shifting weather patterns in the region also increased the risk around dengue spread, he said. The lack of understanding around dengue hotspots was another risk factor. 'It's actually most common in urban settings and semi-urban settings, so towns and villages where there's quite a few people living. [That's where] the mosquito is very comfortable living – in and around people's houses.' A breakdown of the WHO July data, showed spread of the disease had been highest in Fiji, which had 13,702 suspected cases, followed by Tonga (2087) and French Polynesia or Mā'ohi Nui (1079). The data also showed numbers appeared to have peaked in March. However, in recent months, there had been a resurgence in spread of the virus. In particular, it had been found in previously unaffected nations like American Sāmoa, Nauru and Tuvalu. Jacobs said the four different strains of dengue also added to challenges around preventing spread and illness. This was because immunity to dengue was generally dependent on individual strains. 'If you've been infected in the past with type one dengue, then you're unlikely to get that sort of dengue again,' he said. 'But if a different strain of the dengue virus comes into the country some years later – dengue type two, for instance – then all the people who've been infected with type one before, who've been protected against getting type one again, they could all get type two.' Jacobs said that transmission pattern often triggered big outbreaks. It also contributed to more severe illness from dengue. 'If somebody's had dengue more than once, in other words, if they've had it with a couple of the different strains a few years apart, they're the people most likely to get really, really severely ill with dengue. 'And so we see more of the severe dengue, more complications of dengue in those people.' 'About 100 confirmed cases per week' in Samoa In Samoa, the acting director-general of health Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen said the government was prioritising mosquito spraying of areas and buildings where people gathered in its response. These included schools and sites like the Victim Support centre and National University of Sāmoa, he said. Tangaloa confirmed the recent dengue-related death was an 8-year-old girl. She died on Sunday, July 13. Misiafa Lene, 12, died in April after contracting dengue. As of July 13, the number of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases was 1276 in Samoa. 'For the past three weeks – excluding this week – we've seen an increase of about 100 confirmed cases per week,' Tagaloa said. 'Our biggest challenge at the moment ... is the paediatric age group – children below 15 years of age. [They] appear to be the ones that are mostly affected.' – RNZ
