Pacific Dengue Cases Surge to Decade High

Nearly 19,000 Infections Reported as WHO Warns of Widespread Outbreaks

Dengue fever cases across the Pacific have reached an alarming peak, marking the highest numbers seen since 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 19,000 people have been affected, with several nations battling escalating outbreaks and a concerning rise in fatalities.

Regional Health Crisis Unfolds

The latest figures reveal a grim reality for the Pacific region, where multiple countries are currently grappling with significant dengue outbreaks. Samoa, in particular, has confirmed its second child death from the disease this year, bringing the total regional dengue-related fatalities to nine.

Dr. **Mark Jacobs**, WHO’s Pacific Technical Support director, highlighted the severity of the situation. “We’ve been seeing a gradual increase in dengue in the Pacific for at least the last couple of decades,” he stated. “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 these, a substantial 12,040 cases have been laboratory-confirmed.

Factors Driving the Epidemic

Several factors are contributing to the escalating case numbers. Dr. Jacobs pointed to increased population movement between Pacific nations as a key driver. “The virus that causes dengue fever basically lives in people and lives in mosquitoes,” he explained. “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.” He elaborated that infected individuals traveling between islands can easily introduce the virus to new areas.

The impact of climate change and shifting weather patterns is also exacerbating the spread of dengue. Furthermore, a lack of detailed understanding regarding dengue hot-spots poses another significant risk. “It’s actually most common in urban settings and semi-urban settings, so towns and villages where there’s quite a few people living,” Dr. Jacobs noted. “The mosquito is very comfortable living – in and around people’s houses.”

Geographic Distribution and Strain Complexity

Data from the WHO’s July report indicates that Fiji has been the hardest-hit, with 13,702 suspected cases. Tonga followed with 2,087 cases, and French Polynesia (Mā’ohi Nui) reported 1,079 cases. While case numbers appeared to peak in March, a resurgence has been observed in recent months, with the virus now appearing in previously unaffected nations like American Sāmoa, Nauru, and Tuvalu.

Adding to the challenge is the existence of four distinct dengue virus strains. Immunity to dengue is strain-specific, meaning past infection with one strain does not protect against others. Dr. Jacobs explained, “If you’ve been infected in the past with type one dengue, then you’re unlikely to get that sort of dengue again. 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.” This pattern often leads to larger outbreaks and can result in more severe illness and complications.

Samoa Focuses on Control Measures

In Samoa, health authorities are prioritizing mosquito control efforts, focusing on public spaces and communal buildings. Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen, acting director-general of health, confirmed that spraying operations are targeting schools and community sites like the Victim Support centre and the National University of Samoa. He sadly confirmed that the most recent dengue-related fatality was an eight-year-old girl who passed away on July 13th, following the death of 12-year-old Misiafa Lene in April.

As of July 13th, Samoa had recorded 1,276 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases. “For the past three weeks – excluding this week – we’ve seen an increase of about 100 confirmed cases per week,” Tagaloa stated. He added, “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.”

The situation in the Pacific underscores a broader global trend; for instance, Brazil reported over 1 million dengue cases in the first three months of 2024, highlighting the persistent threat of the disease worldwide (Reuters, March 2024).