Mosquito borne diseases

Disease epidemics from viruses spread by mosquitoes are happening more often across the Pacific region with 96 outbreaks (69 dengue outbreaks, 12 Zika virus and 15 Chikungunya) reported between January 2012 and May 2021.

The Pacific Mosquito Surveillance Strengthening for Impact (PacMOSSI) project is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to support the management of the increasing number of vector borne disease outbreaks in the region.

Pacific nations are being brought together in January for what is called a two day TechCamp, which is funded by the US Embassy in New Zealand and organized by Otago University.

Faumuina Associate Professor Faafetai Sopoaga from the university's Health Sciences division said mosquito-borne diseases such as zika and dengue posed a major threat.

She said through the workshop they hoped to improve the island countries ability to cope.

Faumuina also said with the Pacific being a series of islands this could be a key factor.