14 Jul 2017

SPC says dengue type 2 now in five Pacific countries

11:25 am on 14 July 2017

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is closely monitoring dengue outbreaks around the Pacific.

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Photo: 123RF

Palau is one of the countries experiencing a surge in dengue victims with 290 cases recorded for the first six months of this year.

The acting deputy director for SPC's Public Health Division Dr Salanieta Saketa said the same type of dengue Palau was affected by is present in five of the six countries the agency monitors each week.

"The dengue type 2 seems to be the predominant one in the region and we think this is a concern as this particular serotype has not been in circulation in the Pacific for almost 20 years which means that a lot of people may not have immunity against this serotype, and so a lot of people are susceptible and can be infected."

SPC's Dr Salanieta Saketa said other countries they were monitoring include New Caledonia, Vanuatu, American Samoa, Fiji and French Polynesia.

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