Dengue Fever Outbreak is Ongoing in Samoa with 7-Month old Baby Girl Recorded as 8th Official Death

2026-02-08 - 16:19

Hospitals in Upolu and Savai‘i have confirmed that there are still members of the public receiving treatment for dengue fever. Since the announcement of the dengue outbreak in April last year to December 2025, Samoa had recorded seven dengue-related deaths. However, that number has now risen to eight following the recent death of a seven-month-old baby girl linked to the virus. This was confirmed by the Assistant Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen who reaffirmed the outbreak is ongoing. In a press statement Dr Thomsen explained that the outbreak can only be declared over once 28 days had passed with no new confirmed dengue cases. In a recent 7-day period, “There are 56 new cases reported with 11 new hospital admissions.” The Ministry of Health officially declared a dengue fever outbreak in Samoa in Aptil 2025. The outbreak disrupted schools with extended breaks imposed on schools across Samoa in July recorded 9 official deaths. As explained by Dr Thomsen at the time, “Dengue fever is a viral illness caused by four (U) different types of dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2), DENV-3 and DENV-4) and is spread by mosquitoes.” “It is transmitted from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes.” According to the Ministry of Health, from the 26th January 2025 to the 1st of February, 2026 a total of 16,842 cases had been confirmed across Samoa. Greenology is Samoa’s leading provider of ICT Solutions! More recently according to Tagaloa, “There are 56 new cases reported with 11 new hospital admissions.” Tagaloa said more samples are being prepared to be sent to Australia for testing. “O le taimi nei o loo tapena le toe auina atu o tatou samples i Melepone Ausetalia mo suesuega.. “Mo le silafia o le tausaga na tea e lua serotypes o le dengue lea e aafia ai Samoa, DENV1 ma le DENV2..” Tagaloa said samples sent to Australia in November last year had showed serotype DEN2 increasing in the country. “That is why we are sending more samples,” said Dr Thomsen, “to determine whether DENV1 is still predominant, or whether DENV2 has increased..” The Ministry of Health has reminded the public to follow precautions by reducing mosquito breeding sites.