OUTBREAK OVERVIEW:
The DENV-3 outbreak in Samoa has shown continuing activity from 2015. Increasing activity was seen again from January 2016 with a fluctuating pattern but no steep increase as seen earlier, between June-August 2015.
So far the cumulative reported total is 1,188 cases with a national attack rate of 6.3 per 1,000 population.
The places and age groups commonly affected continue to be the same, with the Apia Urban Area and the North West Upolu regions as shown in the map of Samoa. The age group below 25 years are the most affected, with the highest number of cases in the 5 - 19 year old. More females than males were diagnosed.
LABORATORY:
Lab continues to send selected samples for overseas confirmation. This is done at ILM, Tahiti and ESR NZ where all three (DENV, CHIKV, ZIKV) arboviral infections are screened.
DENGUE OUTBREAK IN SAMOA 2015/2016.
CONTROL MEASURES continues..
MOH Samoa has continuously deployed control measures for mosquito– borne diseases, which we believe has impacted the control of arboviral diseases outbreaks in Samoa.
Several control measures are ongoing as included in our previous situation reports.