Increase in dengue cases in Fiji and French Polynesia

On 3 February 2025, the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services declared a dengue fever outbreak in the Western Division of the nation, due to a significant surge in cases of infection. Since the onset of the year, 200 cases have been reported, predominantly affecting individuals between the ages of 10 and 29. In response, a Dengue Action Plan was implemented, with ongoing monitoring by division heads and senior management. This response was necessitated by the issuance of a Dengue Red Alert. The Bulletin de Surveillance Sanitaire de Polynésie française n°4 – 2025, published in EpiWeek 04, documented 60 new cases of dengue in French Polynesia, with cases identified among residents of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Fakarava, and three visitors. The initial case was reported in Takaroa, located within the Tuamotu archipelago. It is documented that a 7-year-old child was hospitalised, and that the incidence has increased compared to the previous week. No serious cases or deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic. At the same time, since July 2024, DENV-1 has become the predominant serotype in the country, representing 100% of the serotyped samples since EpiWeek 51, 2024. The total number of reported cases is 845 (786 confirmed cases and 59 probable cases) as of November 27, 2023.