The following syndromes have been flagged: - Acute Fever and Rash: French Polynesia, Palau - Diarrhoea: Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga - Influenza-like illness: Solomon Islands - Prolonged fever: Solomon Islands
Other updates
Zika virus - Tonga: There has been an increase in the number of suspected zika cases reported in the week ending 17 and 24 January 2016. Two out of nine samples sent to the LabPlus NZ, were RT-PCR positive for Zika virus.
Acute Fever and Rash - There has been an increase in the number of cases reported from American Samoa from the end of December to January 2016. Samples are being sent to a reference laboratory for confirmatory testing.
Dengue - Fiji: increasing numbers of Dengue-Like Illness (DLI) have been reported for week ending 24 January 2016. - Kiribati: As of 24 January 2016 there have been 117 (DLI) cases seen since 3 January 2016.
Zika virus – microcephaly - Brazil: As of epidemiological week 1 of 2016, there were 3,530 microcephaly cases recorded, including 46 deaths, in 20 states and the Federal District. in Currently there is only ecological evidence of an association between increased microcephaly, neurological and autoimmune syndromes, and prior infection with Zika virus; the possible causative nature of the association cannot be ruled out with the evidence available. Source: PAHO - For an update on Zika virus in the Pacific; please refer to PacNet posting on 26 January 2016.
Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - Thailand confirmed MERS-CoV in a traveller, the second cases in the country in the last seven months. Measures are being taken to trace all those who could have been in his contact during his journey to Thailand, and within Bangkok.