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Update on the Dengue situation in the Western Pacific Region
Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans that in recent years has become a major international public health concern. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Among the estimated 2.5 billion people at risk globally, more than 70% reside in Asia Pacific countries.
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. The geographical spread of both the mosquito vectors and the viruses has led to the global resurgence of epidemic dengue fever and emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever (dengue/DHF) in the past 25 years with the development of hyperendemicity in many urban centers of the tropics. Severe dengue (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management increase the survival of patients. The following are some statistical figures pertaining to the dengue situation in the Western Pacific Region, which were updated by WHO in the first 8 months of 2015: Northern hemisphere China As of 31 July 2015, there were 285 cases of dengue reported in China. From 1 July to 31 July 2015, 130 dengue cases were reported. An increase of cases in the month of July is similar to the previous three years. (Figure 1)
Figure 1: Number of dengue cases per month, China 2012-2015 (Source: National Health and Family Planning Commission)
Malaysia As of 15 August 2015, there were 75,795 cases of dengue with 212 deaths reported in Malaysia for 2015. This is 26.8% higher compared with the same reporting period of 2014 (n=59,790) (Figure 2). From 9 to 15 August 2015, there were 2,532 cases of dengue reported, 2% lower than the number of cases reported in the previous week (n=2,583).
Figure 2: Number of dengue cases per week 2014-2015, Department of Health, Malaysia.
Philippines From 1 January to 1 August 2015, there were 48,872 suspected cases of dengue, including 162 deaths, reported in Philippines. This is 4.03% higher compared with the same reporting period in 2014 (n=46,980) (Figure 3). 
Singapore As of 15 August 2015, there were 5,868 cases of dengue reported in Singapore for 2015. From 9 August to 15 August 2015, 221 dengue cases were reported, 5 cases fewer than the previous week, and lower than the same reporting period in 2013 and 2014. (Figure 4). 
Cambodia As of 3 August 2015, there were 5,274 cases of dengue, including 16 deaths, reported in Cambodia. The number of cases has been steadily increasing; however, the total number of cases is still following seasonal trend of 2011 and 2013. (Figure 5).
Lao PDR As of 14 August, there were 892 cases of dengue and no deaths reported in Lao PDR for 2015. From 8 to 14 July 2015, 71 cases of dengue cases were reported and cases reported weekly have been decreasing (Figure 6). There is no alert for country level for the week ending 14 August 2015. 
Viet Nam As of 16 August 2015, there were 24,968 cases of dengue including 12 deaths reported in Viet Nam for 2015. Compared to same reporting period in 2014, the number of cases is 54.8% higher. Compared to same reporting period for the period from 2010-2014 (average), number of cases is 27.9% lower and number of deaths is 54.5% lower. From 10 to 16 August 2015, there were 1,633 cases of dengue reported with no death cases. Compared with the previous week (n=1,375 cases), the number of cases increased by 18.8% (Figure 7). 
Southern Hemisphere Australia As of 31 July, 1,201 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Australia for 2015. Compared with the same reporting period of last year (n=1,309), the number of reported cases was consistent with previous years and follows seasonal trends (Figure 8). 
Pacific Islands French Polynesia In week 33, 26 confirmed dengue cases were reported in French Polynesia including 8 cases which were dengue serotype1 (Figure 9). There were 8 hospitalizations and 2 severe dengue cases in August 2015. 
Samoa Samoa (No update) An Outbreak is occurring in Samoa (dengue serotype-3) and the outbreak is ongoing. Samoa has reported a total of 220 cases of Dengue Like Illness (DLI) including 15 hospitalizations as of 7 August. Most cases were under 25 years of age. No deaths have been reported. American Samoa American Samoa An outbreak is occurring in American Samoa (dengue serotype-3) and the outbreak is ongoing. As of 11 August 2015, 281 suspected cases, 89 hospitalizations have been reported since May 2015.
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