Tonga has recorded nearly 500 dengue fever cases since January, with eight people currently hospitalised.
Tonga’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 520 dengue fever cases as of April 17, prompting stepped-up efforts in hotspot areas.
The ministry said eight patients are in hospital, with the outbreak sparking an ongoing public awareness campaign. Vector control measures are being carried out in high-risk zones across the country.
“Efforts include spraying and clean-up operations to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds,” the ministry said in a statement.
Dengue outbreaks are also active in parts of Fiji and Samoa, with regional authorities warning travellers to take precautions. Fiji has recorded cases in both its Central and Western Divisions, and a student on Viti Levu died earlier this month.
In Samoa, health officials recently confirmed a dengue outbreak following the death of a 12-year-old boy from haemorrhagic dengue fever.
Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma, Samoa’s Director-General of Health, said, “The boy was admitted on Wednesday in a poor state and was diagnosed with haemorrhagic dengue fever.”
The Pacific region is also on alert for influenza in Niue and a recent measles outbreak in the US, prompting New Zealand health experts to warn of the risk of cross-border transmission.
