Four confirmed and one probable dengue-related death in Samoa
123RF
The Samoan government says more than 5600 clinically diagnosed dengue cases have been recorded since January.
Of these, 2619 are laboratory-confirmed.
An outbreak of the disease was declared in April.
In a press statement delivered by caretaker prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, she said there have been four confirmed and one probable dengue-related death.
She said household inspections of more than 2000 homes showed poor waste disposal practices, stagnant water and overgrown vegetation are major contributors to heightened mosquito breeding places.
Dengue is fairly common in Pacific countries but this year the number is the
highest it has been since 2016
, according to the World Health Organisation's Pacific Technical Support director, Dr Mark Jacobs.
He told
Pacific Waves
in late July the high case numbers in the region were due to a range of factors, including the movement of people between Pacific nations.
Dengue can't spread from person to person, but once a certain type of mosquito bites an infected person, that mosquito can spread it to someone else.
Dr Jacobs said the climate change and shifting weather patterns in the region also increased the risk around dengue spread; and the lack of understanding around dengue hot-spots was another risk factor.
Meanwhile, the country's Education Minister Ae'au Chris Hazelman said all schools will remain closed this week due to the outbreak, including ECE and universities.
"Based on the data provided to us by the Ministry of Health, not only at our national hospital at Moto'otua but all of our district hospitals as well and also the hospital in Savai'i - it is based on those numbers that we have made the decision to close the schools."
Schools were closed last week and a fumigation programme was launched.
Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand said last week there were 34 confirmed cases of dengue reported in Auckland in July among people coming back into New Zealand - with approximately half of those acquired in Samoa.
Health NZ said New Zealand does not have mosquitoes able to transmit dengue.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Advertising unapproved medicines not legal, despite government claim
In a statement, Minister for Regulation David Seymour said the restriction on advertising new medicines at medical conferences "is being removed". Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Despite a government announcement suggesting it has lifted the ban on advertising unapproved medicines, it remains a criminal offence, warn legal experts. In a joint media release with Health Minister Simeon Brown, Minister for Regulation David Seymour welcomed "confirmation" of two major medical conferences in New Zealand next year, following the rule change to allow advertising of unapproved medicines at trade shows. The Ministry for Regulation had found the "overly cautious approach" was out of step with other recognised jurisdictions, and the government "acted fast to fix it", Seymour said. However, leading intellectual property lawyer Paul Johns - head of litigation for Pearce IP - cautioned the law had not yet changed. "If I were the organiser of these conferences and had seen those media releases, I would be making sure that my sponsors were aware that in fact the law has not changed and any medicines they want to advertise ought to be approved, because the consequences are criminal - there are fines and even imprisonment. "I don't think you would get that far, but they're there." Parliament was currently considering some amendments to the Medicines Act (to enable faster approval of drugs and widen powers for nurse prescribers) but there was nothing to do with advertising, he said. "It's still possible that the government could submit an amendment paper and put this advertising thing in there as well, but they haven't. So they appear to have a policy but they've done nothing about it in terms of legislation." The "great irony" was that under the Therapeutic Products Act - which was repealed by the current administration - the government could have simply introduced new regulations allowing such advertising, Johns noted. "But now they need to amend the Medicines Act." Others have pointed out that medical conferences were planned years in advance, so the new policy could not have been the deciding factor for next year's bookings. In a written response to RNZ's questions, Minister Seymour said the restriction on advertising new medicines at medical conferences "is being removed". "Ending New Zealand's prohibition on advertising medicines at medical conferences and trade shows has sent a message that New Zealand is open for business. That's exactly what medical conference organisers needed to hear, with two already confirmed for 2026." Medicines New Zealand chief executive Dr Graeme Jarvis said New Zealand had been missing out on conferences worth up to $90 million a year because it was impossible to run trade shows alongside them. "So you're actually losing out on not only the income you would get from running the conference and trade show here, but also the tourism spend as well." Clinicians had also been missing out. "Doctors here aren't getting exposed to all of the latest and greatest in terms of conferences, scientific exchange, the information and updates on all sorts of things." However, Auckland University associate professor of psychological medicine David Menkes said it was "misleading" to suggest doctors did not already have access to the latest information about new treatments. "But usually that information comes not from a company rep, it will come from an expert who's presenting as a colleague, rather than as an exhibitor or a sponsor of a conference." The academic psychiatrist said doctors liked to "believe they can't be swayed by corporate largesse" - but studies showed they were not immune. "That's why academic journals require peer review and disclosure of interests." Menkes is a long-time critic of New Zealand's permissive marketing regime : it is the only OECD country - apart from the United States - to allow direct-to-consumer advertising of medicines. Further loosening of the rules could compound the risk of over-prescribing, he said. "You don't want to be held up by red tape and bureaucracy, right? But you also want to have checks and balances in place. "I'm afraid this new policy doesn't have adequate checks and balances against overt promotional behaviour by vested interests." Seymour's office was unable to say when the government was planning to turn the policy into something Parliament could consider.
Scoop
7 hours ago
- Scoop
20 Years Of ProCare Scholarships For University Of Auckland Medical Students
ProCare is proud to mark the 20th anniversary of its scholarship programme supporting Māori and Pacific medical students at the University of Auckland. Since 2003, the ProCare Scholarship has recognised top-performing students in the General Practice part of the University's Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme. This year these scholarships are awarded to Maaike de Goede (Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Haua) and Zion Ioka (Pacific). Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: 'Twenty years ago, we set out to support Māori and Pacific students on their journey to becoming doctors in partnership with the University of Auckland. Supporting our future workforce, particularly our Māori and Pacific students, is a key priority for us. Having our workforce reflect the community we serve means patients have better healthcare experiences and ultimately live better, healthier lives." 'Maaike and Zion are incredibly hard workers who are dedicated to their studies and to helping the community. We are thrilled to recognise and celebrate their inspiring efforts, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for them,' Norwell concludes. Mihi Blair, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori, Mana Taurite (GM of Māori Health and Equity), at ProCare says: 'These awards both commend the success of our top Māori and Pacific students and aid them in their journey to become medical professionals, helping to ensure that Māori and Pacific are represented in the medical field. Our Māori and Pacific tauira (students) succeed not just for themselves, but for their whānau and wider communities. We are proud to walk alongside them as they prepare to serve and uplift their communities,' concludes Blair. Maaike and Zion have exciting goals for the future, which the scholarships will assist them with. Māori Scholarship recipient, Maaike de Goede, says: 'I plan to continue working in rural hospitals in the Bay of Plenty. My current potential specialisations are intensive care, anaesthetics, or paediatrics (or combining them!). However, I am still open-minded and enjoying where my career will take me. 'Having a workforce that reflects our society doesn't just mean we look the same. It also refers to our experiences. Understanding, relating to, and empathising with people only enhances whakawhanaungatanga. There is a whakatauki that I like to tell myself when things are tough, whether it be life in general, work or school - Kia mate ururoa, kei mate wheke - fight like a shark, don't give up like an octopus," concludes de Goede. Pacific Scholarship recipient, Zion Ioka, says: 'This has to be the most full-circle moment throughout my time in the MBcHB, as I entered this degree with every intention of graduating and completing my specialty training as a GP. My dream is to open a GP clinic in West Auckland with the intention of serving the community that I was born and raised in. 'I would like to thank everyone involved for awarding me the ProCare Top Pacific GP placement award in 2024,' Ioka concluded. This award was established in 2003 and is a significant academic accolade. The prize is intended to foster interest in General Practice medicine as a career path for Māori and Pacific students. About ProCare ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand's largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau.
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
New Zealand sends health team, medical supplies to Samoa to assist with dengue fever outbreak
The Aedes aegypti is one of the mosquitos that transmits dengue fever in Samoa. Photo: Supplied/ CDC Public Health Image Library - Frank Hadley Collins New Zealand is sending a small health team and $300,000 worth of medical supplies to Samoa to assist with a major outbreak of dengue fever. Samoa has recorded more than 5000 cases and at least five deaths since the outbreak was declared in April. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand stood with Samoa in this time of need - and was ready to provide further support as requested. "We stand ready to provide further support as requested by Samoa," Peters said. Senior New Zealand public health officials are also in contact with their Samoa counterparts. New Zealand does not have the mosquitoes able to transmit dengue but public health officials say the number of cases are also surging in Aotearoa as people return home after picking up the illness overseas. Anyone travelling to Samoa should protect themselves from mosquito bites and follow dengue fever prevention advice available on the SafeTravel website . New Zealanders travelling outside Aotearoa are also advised to protect themselves by: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
