Dengue Fever on the Rise in Pacific Countries: A Growing Concern for Australians
A surge in dengue fever cases across the western Pacific and south-east Asia has prompted travel warnings for Australians, with experts warning that the problem is likely to worsen in the coming years. The Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji, and Kiribati are among the countries affected, with deaths reported in Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.
According to 9 News, the Cook Islands have declared an outbreak of the potentially deadly disease, with 19 cases recorded as of June 6, two of which were active. The Ministry of Health’s latest update highlighted the severity of the situation, with Director of The Pacific Community’s public health division, Dr Berlin Kafoa, warning that the risk of severe dengue was rising.
"Severe cases and fatalities are being reported, especially among youth," Dr Kafoa said, as quoted by 9 News. "Dengue should not be dismissed as a mild illness, it can be life-threatening."
The spread of dengue fever is attributed to various factors, including an immunisation gap and the expansion of mosquito habitats due to climate change. Dr Kafoa noted that dengue was no longer a seasonal or isolated threat in the Pacific, but a regional health emergency shaped by climate, mobility, and historical vulnerabilities.
The risk of dengue fever is not limited to Pacific countries, with travellers also at risk of contracting the disease. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical advisor Dr Joan Ingram warned that estimates suggested around six in 1000 travellers spending a month in a risk area become unwell with dengue, with up to 30 per cent of them being hospitalised.
Travellers also risk bringing the disease to their home country, highlighting the need for awareness and precautions. 9 News reported that current responses to dengue outbreaks, such as insecticides and clean-up campaigns, have a limited impact.
World Mosquito Program (WMP) senior director of field entomology Dr Gregor Devine noted that effective vaccines were "years away" from being universally affordable and available, while the trend in dengue cases was tracking "relentlessly upwards". However, the WMP has had success with the Wolbachia treatment, which involves infecting mosquitoes with a bacteria that blocks the transmission of the disease.
Following six years of Wolbachia mosquito releases in New Caledonia, the project has been hailed a monumental success, with the French territory not having a dengue epidemic since 2019. The WMP will continue releases in Kiribati and adopt the treatment in Timor-Leste this year.
Australians looking to travel to a Pacific country or other dengue-affected areas such as South-East Asia and South America are urged to stay up to date on advice from Smartraveller. With the risk of dengue fever on the rise, it is essential for travellers to take precautions and be aware of the situation.
As reported by 9 News, Dr Ingram also noted that the Wolbachia trials showed "promising results", while vaccine research continued. With the situation continuing to unfold, it is crucial for Australians to remain informed and take necessary precautions to avoid contracting the disease.
