Dengue cases worldwide/Dengue outbreaks

Dengue outbreak in Pacific worst in 10 years

Samoa is one of the worst-hit countries in the Pacific when it comes to dengue fever. Since April 17, more than 5,600 people have been affected and four have died, ABC Pacific reports.

Every morning, schools and buildings are sprayed with mosquito repellent to prevent the risk of outbreaks.

Over the past week, families and villages on the islands of Upolu and Savai’i have been urged to improve waste management, remove stagnant water and clear overgrown vegetation to reduce mosquito populations.

So far this year, 16,502 cases and 17 deaths have been confirmed in the Pacific countries. These are the highest levels since 2016, according to the WHO.

Dengue fever is increasing in line with climate change

Dengue fever cases are increasing on the islands of the Pacific. According to experts, climate change has been a driving force, reports The Guardian.

The countries in the region are particularly vulnerable to climate-related health threats. In recent months, monsoon rains have been extreme in Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, among others.

Heavy rain and rising water levels are among the explanations for how mosquitoes are multiplying so well.

In parts of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji, there has instead been a drought. But the mosquitoes that usually thrive best in rain have not been stopped.

– Due to climate change, the infection seasons are being extended, and some areas are experiencing dengue all year round, says Paula Vivili, deputy director general of the Pacific Community (SPC).