Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 27 October 2026:
Dengue
• American Samoa: The Department of Health Situational Report for 19 to 25 October 2026 records 1,064 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases as of 27 October 2026 since the outbreak began in 2025. New case numbers remain low, with four cases reported over the last three EpiWeeks: two cases in EpiWeek 40 and one case each in EpiWeeks 41 and 42. Dengue cases peaked in early 2026 (EpiWeek 02), with weekly case counts remaining low since May. The blue alert for dengue (DENV-1 & DENV-2) remains in effect. – Source: American Samoa Department of Health, Situational Report: Respiratory & Notifiable Diseases shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 30 October 2026.
• Marshall Islands: The 16th Outbreak Situation Report covering 15 August to 22 October 2026, records 165 positive cases (confirmed and probable) among 540 specimens tested: 127 in Majuro and 38 in Ebeye, compared with 124 and 32 cases, respectively, in the previous report covering 15 August to 15 October 2026. There have been 15 hospitalisations (13 in Majuro and two in Ebeye) and no deaths since the beginning of the outbreak. Attack rates are 5.5 per 1,000 population in Majuro and 3.9 per 1,000 in Ebeye, while positivity rates are 29% and 37%, respectively. Only DENV-1 has been identified. Vector control has been completed at the households of 147 positive cases and at 206 sites. About 250 spatial repellents and mosquito nets have been delivered to Ebeye, and surveillance in the neighbouring islands is being strengthened. The red alert for dengue (DENV-1) remains in effect. – Source: Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services, 16th Outbreak Situation Report on dengue fever in Majuro and Ebeye accessed on 03 November 2026.
• Samoa: Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report Issue No. 79, covering EpiWeek 42 (12 to 18 October 2026), reports 51 new cases, down 4% on the previous week (53, revised from 14), with no laboratory-confirmed case, no new admission and no death. Since 01 January 2025, 20,478 clinically diagnosed cases, 5,547 laboratory-confirmed cases and nine dengue-related deaths have been recorded. DENV-1 accounts for 52% and DENV-2 for 48% of serotyped cases, and children under 15 years for 73% of cases. The blue alert for dengue (DENV-1 & DENV-2) remains in effect. – Source: Ministry of Health Samoa, Dengue Fever Outbreak Situation Report Issue No. 79 accessed on 03 November 2026.
Diarrhea
• Federated States of Micronesia – Yap State: The Yap weekly bulletin for EpiWeek 43 (19 to 25 October 2026) shows diarrhoea on alert for a tenth consecutive week, rising from 9 to 15 cases, above the alert threshold of 7. All 5 stool specimens tested on the BioFire gastrointestinal panel were positive: three patients had adenovirus, two of them co-infected with E. coli pathotypes, and two had E. coli pathotype co-infections only. Among 100 diarrhoea cases in children aged 0 to 5 years since the start of the outbreak, 34 had completed rotavirus vaccination, 27 were partially vaccinated, 28 were unvaccinated and 11 had their status still being verified. The blue alert for rotavirus is changed to blue alert for diarrhea for the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap State). – Source: Yap State Department of Health Services, Communicable Disease Weekly Bulletin, shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 29 October 2026.
Measles
• Australia: On 30 October 2026, the Western Australia Department of Health confirmed a new measles case in a young child treated at a Perth hospital. The case is not linked to overseas travel and has no known link to the case reported on 28 October, and the Department says that a locally acquired case with no known source raises concern for undetected community transmission. The earlier case is a returned overseas traveller who visited several public venues in Perth while infectious. People who attended the listed exposure locations are advised to monitor for symptoms and to call ahead before visiting a GP clinic or emergency department. As of 03 November 2026 at the national level, 122 measles notifications have been recorded in Australia, compared with 181 in 2025. The red alert for measles remains in effect for Australia. – Sources: Western Australia Department of Health, Measles alert for Perth in returned overseas traveller, Western Australia Department of Health, WA Health confirms new measles case in young child and Dashboard · NINDSS Portal accessed on 03 November 2026.
• Papua New Guinea: The National Department of Health weekly bulletin for EpiWeek 43 (19 to 25 October 2026) reports 26 acute fever and rash cases nationally, down from 30 in EpiWeek 42. Year to date, 452 cases have been reported and 396 samples tested, with 19 IgM-positive measles results. After Expert Review Group review, two measles cases (New Ireland 1, Western Highlands 1) and two rubella cases are confirmed in 2026. The last IgM-positive measles onset was on 15 September 2026 and the last rubella onset on 29 September 2026. The measles-rubella vaccination campaign targets all children under seven in districts with a detected case. The red alert for measles remains in effect for Papua New Guinea. – Source: Papua New Guinea National Department of Health, Public Health Events Weekly Bulletin, shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 30 October 2026.
Respiratory diseases
• French Polynesia: In French Polynesia, influenza activity increased markedly in EpiWeek 43 (19–25 October 2026), confirming the territory’s entry into an epidemic phase. A total of 52 laboratory-confirmed influenza A cases, predominantly A(H1N1), were reported during the week, with 14 hospitalisations. Increased cases and hospitalisations were observed in Tahiti, Raiatea and the Marquesas, indicating circulation across several parts of the territory. The seasonal influenza vaccination campaign began on 26 October, with vaccination available through pharmacies and health facilities. A red alert for influenza A is issued for French Polynesia. – Source: Agence de régulation de l’action sanitaire et sociale (ARASS), Bulletin de Surveillance Sanitaire de Polynésie française n°38 shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 03 November 2026.
• New Zealand: For the week ending 25 October 2026, the all-cause SARI hospitalisation rate in the Auckland region remained stable and in the low activity band. The influenza-positive SARI hospitalisation rate increased slightly but also remained low. Influenza remained the most commonly detected virus among SARI patients, with 17 positive samples, and SARI influenza test positivity increased from 19.0% to 28.3%. Positivity among sentinel GP influenza-like illness cases also increased, from 9.5% to 13.0%. In 2026 to date, 707 of 2,924 (24.2%) SARI samples and 229 of 1,220 (18.8%) sentinel GP samples have tested positive for influenza. The blue alert for influenza A remains in effect for New Zealand. – Source: New Zealand acute respiratory illness dashboard accessed on 03 November 2026.
• Tonga: The weekly syndromic surveillance report for EpiWeek 43 (19 to 25 October 2026) shows influenza-like illness (ILI) falling for a second week, from 125 to 84 cases, after the EpiWeek 41 peak of 137. Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) fell from 13 to 9 cases. From 03 August to 25 October 2026, 89 SARI patients were hospitalised. Of 732 ILI cases, 499 (68.1%) were tested: 235 (47%) were positive for influenza A, 6 for influenza B and 29 for RSV. Four deaths have occurred among SARI cases, unchanged since EpiWeek 42, three of them laboratory-confirmed influenza A. The red alert for influenza A remains in effect for Tonga. – Source: Tonga Ministry of Health, Weekly Communicable Diseases Syndromic Surveillance shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 30 October 2026.
Rotavirus
• Vanuatu: Situation Update No. 1 on watery diarrhoea on Ambae Island, Penama Province covering 12 to 18 October 2026, reports seven cases in the period, below the weekly alert threshold of 8. Two laboratory-confirmed rotavirus cases were detected in EpiWeek 43, both from Navonda village in East Ambae, confirming ongoing transmission. The Ministry of Health states that the current data do not support an outbreak declaration: from week 1 to week 42, weekly counts at Lolowai Hospital exceeded the threshold only once, in week 10. Most cases are aged over 5 years (59%) and 75% come from East Ambae. One case was admitted and discharged, with no severe case and no death. Enhanced surveillance, active case finding, risk communication on hygiene and safe water, and testing of suspected cases are under way. The red alert for rotavirus is changed to blue alert for rotavirus for Vanuatu. – Source: Vanuatu Ministry of Health, Watery Diarrhoea on Ambae Island, Penama Province, Situation Update No. 1, shared with the PPHSN Coordinating Body Focal point on 28 October 2026.
Other Information:
One Health – High pathogenicity avian influenza
• Australia: A dead common dolphin that washed ashore at Encounter Bay on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula tested positive for avian influenza (H5), according to the state’s chief veterinary officer, who assessed the risk of an extensive outbreak among dolphins as low while flagging ongoing concern for seals and sea lions. South Australia has recorded 341 positive H5 events and Australia 732 confirmed events in wildlife as of 02 November 2026. New detections are less frequent, with no recent mass mortality. Vaccine has been released for wild little penguin colonies at Granite Island, Penneshaw and Emu Bay, with no start date set. H5 has not been reported from any Pacific Island country or territory to date. – Source: BEACON, HPAI detected in a dolphin, South Australia, Australia as federal government rolls out wildlife vaccination and Latest data – DAFF accessed on 03 November 2026.
• Hawai’i: On 29 October 2026, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health reported that genomic sequencing identified H5N1 genetic material, genotype D1.1, in a wastewater sample collected on 14 October 2026 at a site in East Kauaʻi. It is the first detection of this genotype in Hawaiʻi, where genotype A3 was previously found. The detection does not mean that live, infectious virus is or has been present in a human. No human case has been linked to this signal and no H5N1 has been detected in local dairy milk testing. – Source: Hawaiʻi Department of Health, DOH reports H5N1 avian flu detected in Kauaʻi County wastewater sample accessed on 03 November 2026.
• Japan: A dead wild goose recovered in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture, on 27 October 2026 tested preliminarily positive for avian influenza virus. The Environment Ministry is awaiting genetic confirmation of whether the strain is of high pathogenicity, which would be the first such detection in a wild bird in Japan this season. A 10 km priority zone for wild bird monitoring has been designated around the site. No poultry, mammal or human case has been reported. – Source: BEACON, First preliminary positive detection of avian influenza in a wild goose this migratory season in Japan accessed on 03 November 2026.
Many thanks again for your continuous contributions. Please note that the alerts displayed on the map are based on information available to us as of the date of this report.
