Dengue Fever Cases Rise in Northern Province – Surveillance Intensified

After several years of very limited circulation, the dengue virus reappears on Caillou. The map published this Friday, February 13 on the Dass website (health and social affairs department) reports fifty-five cases confirmed since the 1^is January, spread over around fifteen municipalities.

At this stage, health authorities are not classifying the situation as an epidemic. “We are in a situation of vigilance, but not in an epidemic”indicates a Dass official. The hot and humid season, conducive to the proliferation of mosquitoes Aedes aegyptipartly explains this recovery.

Only one serotype in circulation

Analyzes carried out by government services show that the DENV-1 serotype is the only one identified in circulation in the territory. This is the same strain as that currently observed in French Polynesia.

Most of the cases recorded are indigenous cases, that is to say, people who have not traveled outside the territory and who have contracted the virus locally. Infections are reported in the Northern province, but also in Greater Nouméa.

The authorities also confirm that this is the highest traffic observed at the start of the year since 2020, while emphasizing that the situation remains under control.

Wolbachia limits its distribution in Greater Nouméa

In the urban area, the spread seems contained. The Wolbachia program, deployed in Nouméa, Dumbéa, Mont-Dore and Païta, is based on the introduction of mosquitoes carrying a bacteria reducing their ability to transmit the virus. “This allows us to have something fairly controlled, with a few isolated cases”specifies Dass. But the system does not completely eliminate the risk: “flaws” may appear, particularly when people return from uncovered areas. On the other hand, the program has not been deployed in the Northern province, where vigilance is reinforced.

The authorities recognize that they have less hindsight to qualify the epidemic dynamics since the implementation of the program, the previous references dating from before 2018.

Prevention remains the main lever

Government services point out that the fight relies first and foremost on individual actions:

• eliminate stagnant water around homes after each rain;
• use mosquito nets, covering clothing and suitable repellents;
• for infants under six months, use a mosquito net, as no repellent is recommended.

Note that with the start of the school year and travel linked to weekends or holidays, the risk of spread increases. “No reason to be alarmed, but we must remain vigilant”summarizes Dass.