The latest Caritas State of the Environment Report for Oceania has found widespread hunger and thirst across the Pacific in 2015/2016. The report Hungry for justice, thirsty for change shows extreme weather events, combined with ongoing climatic changes, are contributing to a severe loss of food and water supplies in the region.

27SM Niue News: 2015 SPREP Annual Report is now launched

The SPREP Annual Report for 2015 is now available online having been presented at the 27th SPREP Meeting in Niue on Day one. The Report, available in both English and French outlines the activities and project implemented with members and partners in 2015 as the region strives to achieve the SPREP vision - a Pacific environment that sustains our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures.

Pacific syndromic surveillance report

Week 31, ending 7 August 2016

The following syndromes have been flagged:

Republic of Marshall Islands

Timeline

 February 03, 2016: RMI President H.E. Dr. Hilda Heine declares State of Emergency.

• March 08, 2016: RMI President H.E. Dr. Hilda Heine declares State of Disaster.

• April 27, 2016: U.S. President Barack Obama Declares Disaster in RMI.

Affected Populations

• 21,000 people affected by severe drought conditions.

Why a regional focus model?

A key challenge faced by humanitarian agencies is how to ensure that limited available resources are allocated where they are most needed and are efficiently delivered in a principled manner. Decisions to allocate resources must strike a balance between meeting the immediate needs of crisis affected communities and supporting efforts to strengthen resilience and response preparedness to future emergencies.

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Diarrhoea: Fiji, Vanuatu

· Influenza-like Illness: New Caledonia

· Prolonged Fever: Solomon Islands

Other updates:

Zika virus

Les syndromes suivants ont été signalés :

· Maladies diarrhéiques : États fédérés de Micronésie, Fidji, Vanuatu · Syndrome grippal : Samoa américaines, États fédérés de Micronésie

Autres relevés :

Virus Zika

· Kosrae (États fédérés de Micronésie) : Au 7 mai 2016, on dénombrait au total 78 cas d’infection à virus Zika : 11 cas confirmés en laboratoire, 1 cas probable et 66 cas suspects. Aucune femme enceinte ne figurait parmi les cas confirmés. Source : ministère de la Santé des États fédérés de Micronésie.

Conjonctivite

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Diarrhoea: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Vanuatu · Influenza-like Illness: American Samoa, FSM

Other updates:

Zika virus

· Kosrae state, FSM: As of 07 May 2016, a total of 78 cases (suspected, probable, and confirmed) were identified. Eleven were laboratory confirmed, one probable and 66 were suspected cases. None of the confirmed Zika cases are pregnant. Source: FSM Ministry of Health.

Conjunctivitis

Climate change is now recognised as a factor driving the movement of people around the world.

Internationally, migration, displacement and human mobility are recognized in the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, and further reinforced through the Paris Agreement in 2015. As Pacific Island countries increasingly experience the effects of climate change, more Pacific governments will need to consider options for dealing with human mobility.

Les syndromes suivants ont été signalés :

Maladies diarrhéiques : États fédérés de Micronésie, Vanuatu Syndrome grippal : Samoa américaines, États fédérés de Micronésie Fièvre prolongée : Îles Salomon

Autres relevés :

Grippe

On observe une augmentation constante du nombre de cas déclarés à Pohnpei (États fédérés de Micronésie). Le virus grippal A (H1N1) a été identifié. Source : ministère de la Santé des États fédérés de Micronésie.

Virus Zika

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Diarrhoea: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Vanuatu

· Influenza-like Illness: American Samoa, FSM

· Prolonged fever: Solomon Islands

Other updates:

Influenza

· Continually increased number of cases has been reported from Pohnpei state, FSM. Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has been identified. Source: FSM Ministry of Health.

Zika virus

I. Executive summary

EU Threats

Influenza - Multistate (Europe) - Monitoring 2015-2016 season

Influenza transmission in Europe shows a clear seasonal pattern, with peak activity during winter months. ECDC monitors influenza activity in Europe during the winter season and publishes its report weekly on the Flu News Europe website.

Update of the week

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Diarrhoea: Fiji, Palau, Tokelau, Wallis & Futuna

· Influenza-like Illness: American Samoa, New Caledonia

· Prolonged fever: American Samoa

Other updates:

Chikungunya

SUMMARY

From 1 January 2007 to 20 April 2016, Zika virus transmission was documented in a total of 66 countries and territories.

Mosquito-borne transmission:

• 42 countries are experiencing a first outbreak of Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitos.

• 17 countries have reported evidence of Zika virus transmission prior to 2015, with or without ongoing transmission or have reported an outbreak since 2015 that is now over.

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Acute Fever and Rash: French Polynesia, Palau, Tokelau

· Influenza-like Illness: : Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Solomon Islands

· Diarrhoea: FSM, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands

· Prolonged fever: Tuvalu

Other updates:

Tropical Cyclone Winston

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Acute Fever and Rash: French Polynesia

· Influenza-like Illness: Solomon Islands

· Diarrhoea: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Samoa

· Prolonged fever: Solomon Islands

Other updates:

Zika virus

Recurrent earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and volcanoes present significant challenges to vulnerable populations in the East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) region. Some countries also face civil unrest and associated humanitarian impacts, as well as limited government capacity to respond to disasters. Between FY 2006 and FY 2015, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) provided humanitarian assistance in response to a diverse range of natural and complex emergencies in the region.

The following syndromes have been flagged:

• Diarrhoea: Cook Islands, Guam

• Influenza-Like illness: Guam, Nauru, Tonga

Other updates

Chikungunya

• Tuvalu: Seven samples sent to the Institut Lois Malarde, French Polynesia have tested RT-PCR positive for Chikungunya.

• As of 27 September 2015; there have been 1317 cases since February 2015 in Marshall Islands. There were 3 cases for the month of September. The number of cases is decreasing.

Dengue