Public Advisory
The Ministry of Health would like to update the public on the current dengue situation in Vanuatu. According to the Surveillance Report number 6, covering the period from 28 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, there has been one (1) positive dengue case detected on 31 December 2024 at Vila Central Hospital. This case is locally acquired and hospitalized. It is important to note that even one case is regarded as an outbreak.
Ongoing Investigation
The Ministry of Health is actively investigating this case to prevent further spread of the disease. Health authorities are working closely with local communities to identify potential sources and implement necessary control measures.
Dengue Transmission and Symptoms
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes, which is the same mosquito that spreads Zika virus, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever. In most cases, dengue is spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that are found in most tropical countries including Vanuatu.
The Aedes Mosquito is a daytime biting mosquito that lives in urban settings and breeds in standing water found in containers around the household, such as coconut shells, old tyres, drums, buckets, water tanks, pot plant trays and rubbish.
Patients who are infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection for 4-5 days, with a maximum of 12 days after symptoms first appear.
Dengue is suspected when patients have fever for at least 2 days plus at least 2 of the following symptoms of:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle or joint pain
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Rash
Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days after an incubation period of 4-10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.
As there is no specific treatment for dengue, anyone that has dengue should rest and drink plenty of fluids.
You can take medicines such as Paracetamol (Panadol) to treat pain and fever. Do NOT take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil), as they increase the risk of bleeding
Severe dengue is suspected if you have one or more of the following warning signs:
- Intense stomach pain
- Repeated vomiting
- Bleeding from the nose or gums
- Severe dengue cases should be admitted to hospital immediately, as it may cause death.
Prevention
The Ministry of Health would like to emphasise the importance of personal and household protection as the best ways of preventing and reducing dengue transmission.
Personal protection
The best way for people to prevent getting infected with Dengue is to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes. The most effective personal protection measures include;
- Wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible, especially feet and legs
- Using insect repellent
- Using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows
- Sleeping under mosquito nets when sleeping during the day or a dawn and dusk, when Aedes mosquitoes are most active
Dengue Control Activities in Vanuatu
The Ministry of Health would like to emphasize the importance of early detection and management of dengue infection. Anyone who suspects that they have symptoms of dengue infection should visit their nearest healthcare facility immediately for accurate testing and follow up. This is the key message which everyone must understand.
The Ministry of Health, through the national vector borne disease control program, is currently monitoring the situation in Port Vila, Efate as well as in other provinces and islands.
As we are still experiencing high chances of rainfall in Port Vila, the Ministry of Health would like to call upon church, school, community leaders and business houses to mobilise their groups to clean up around their homes, community and public areas to prevent and reduce mosquito potential breeding sites (water holding containers around the house) to decrease dengue virus transmission.
Updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
The Ministry of Health invites people to like and follow the Health Promotions Vanuatu Facebook page to receive regular updates.
Marama Jacob Naus
Communications Officer
Health Promotion Unit
Department of Public Health
Email:
Mob. 7556084
Tel.: 22512