Press Releases

The Ministry of Health would like to update the public on the current dengue outbreak situation in Port Vila. From 4th February 2022, two dengue cases were confirmed at Vila Central Hospital. These cases had no recent history of travel outside of Vanuatu so the dengue was locally acquired and were identified in the areas of Efate’s peri- urban areas of Erakor and Salili. No suspected or confirmed cases have been reported in other provinces or islands.

The Vila Central Hospital will decentralize its Outpatient Department (OPD) services to other health facilities within the Port Vila area.

Port Vila, Vanuatu - On Tuesday, February 1, the Ministry of Health in partnership with Peace Corps Vanuatu and the Australian Government delivered a Training of Trainers to over 30 participants from non-government organisations about the Vanuatu Outbreak Alert System (VOAS). The partners also launched a mascot design contest to raise awareness of the VOAS and create a logo. The VOAS was launched in August 2021 by Minister of Health, Hon. Silas Bule Melve. Since then and in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been used by the Government to provide clear instructions to the population of Vanuatu.

Leprosy in Vanuatu is considered to be endemic and is among the 13 Neglected tropical diseases on its way to elimination. Although on this road, the disease is still of public health interest as it continues to be reported every year.