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This page is mainly addressed to web-readers who are not members of PACNET and therefore can not access the archives.
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Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 17:11:18 +1100 From: vbd2 vbd2@VANUATU.GOV.VU Subject: Dengue in Vanuatu
As of today Tuesday 19 January 1999, the Ministry and
Department of Health of the Vanuatu Government wish to release the following
update information about dengue in Vanuatu. In December 1998 15 blood
samples from the Vila Central Hospital in Port Vila, from patients suspected
with dengue were send to Australia for confirmation of dengue. Out of the 15
blood samples 8 were confirmed as dengue. The serotype was also identified
as dengue serotype 2.
Since beginning of January dengue suspected cases continue to be reported at
Vila Central Hospital and private clinics in Port Vila. So far there have
been 6 admissions at Vila Central Hospital and 2 at Luganville Hospital
although no dengue haemorrhagic fever is reported in all confirmed and suspected cases.
Other provincial hospitals in the country have not reported any suspected case of dengue
[…] The Ministry and Department of Health continue to stress to the public the
importance of prevention of the spread of the virus that suspected dengue patients should
sleep under mosquito nets at all times and refrain from traveling until the situation
improves. Since then no dengue death is reported.
This information is official and had the edorsement of the Dengue Early Warning Committee
of which, Director General of the Department of Health, Mr. Johnson Wabaiat is Chairman.
Malaria and Other Vector-borne Disease Control Unit
Department of Health
Republic of Vanuatu
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 21:56:27 +1200 From: Joe Koroivueta <joekv@IS.COM.FJ> Subject: New dengue alert for Fiji
Dear PACNET Members,
Fiji has gone into an alert phase, bracing for a potential dengue outbreak, following notification of 14 clinically suspected cases of Dengue fever/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever. There were 4 from Lautoka Hospital (Western Division), 6 from Labasa Hospital (Northern Division) and 4 from CWM Hospital (Central Division). No reports have been received from the Eastern Division. One has died without serological confirmation of dengue virus infection. This patient was suspected as having Viral Hepatitis, but haematology profiles suggested Dengue Fever. No autopsy was done. The PANBIO rapid test (detects both Dengue IgM and IgG) and Dengue specific ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay) were both non reactive. The other 13 cases had similar serological profiles (PanBIO and ELISA: Non Reactive). The 14 patient sera are being processed (Polymerase Chain Reaction)-WHO Coll and Ref Center for Arbovirus/ Brisbane/ Australia. On 9/12/98 (2 days ago), 2 dengue clinically suspected cases tested Dengue IgM positive on the PanBIO Rapid Test.
There are no geographical concentration of the cases observed so far. MOH has gone into these actions:| Joe Koroivueta Wellcome Virus Laboratory, Tamavua |
B. P. Ram Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health |
Gyan Prakash National Vector Control UnitSuva |
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 12:23:26 +1100 Subject: Dengue epidemic in Wallis and Futuna: an update (2)
[Many thanks to Dr Bezannier for this second update. The English version follows the French one -- Merci beaucoup au Dr Bezannier pour cette deuxième mise à jour. La version française précède l'anglaise -- TK]
<<… Depuis le début de l'epidemie [le 1er aout 1998]: 395 cas [cliniques] déclarés dont 44 hospitalisés et 1 décès.La reprise très accentuée de l'épidémie est liée aux très importantes précipitations d'octobre qui ont remis en eau les gîtes larvaires jusque-là asséchés et ont rendu impossible la lutte anti-imaginale. Compte tenu de la tranche d'âge concernée, du nombre de cas non déclarés et des formes inapparentes, il est permis de penser que l'épidémie devrait s'éteindre en février...>>
Dr BEZANNIER Gérard
Médecin-Chef du Service d'Hygiène
et de Prophylaxie et de lutte contre les Grandes Endémies
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 17:09:37 Subject: Measles in the Pacific
Kiribati has reported at least 15 cases of clinically-suspected measles since the second week of January, most of these in children under the age of 7. Three of these children were said to have travelled to Kiribati from neighbouring Nauru. Information from Nauru in December indicated that clinicians had seen 1 suspected measles case in September, 2 in November and 11 more in December. Scattered cases have continued to occur. None of these cases have been serologically confirmed to date, but serum samples have been sent from Kiribati to Australia for confirmation…
Measles case information for this message was provided by Dr Airam Metai (Kiribati) and Dr Kiki Thoma (Nauru).
Dr Michael O'Leary
WHO, Suva
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 08:19:50 Subject: Distance Education in Solomon Islands
Chris,
I received your message, we are doing a presentation over the internet,with
slides and audience interaction and I thought you at PACNET might be interested,
we have a lot of people from all over the world loggingon, and I think PACNET
would be a wonderful additon. I am a RN and Nurse Practitioner in Pediatrics and
I am doing the thetechnical coordination for the Case Western Reserve University
group.The web site for more information is http://www.pedschat.org.I am
becomming increasingly interested in Distance Education, and I hopeto take a
couple of courses in it next year, tell me a little about yourjob, I would love
to hear more.
Thanks,
Bob Pyke Jr
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 Subject: Distance Education in Solomon Islands
Hi Bob
We have a distance education program in Solomon Islands offering post basic
courses for Registered Nurses and Nurse Aids. Current courses include Family
Planning, Obstetrics, Community Health, Pediatrics and Nurse Management. Each
course has between 10–16 modules and takes at least a year to complete. In
developing countries we cannot have a high tech delivery system as most of our
students don't have electricity or even access to phones. [...] We do manage
quite well with print based materials and short wave radio backup and
occassional face to face tutorials. The program is really popular and we have a
1–5 year waiting list…There are also some excellent journals and
associations eg ODLAA Open, distance Learning Association of Australia in the
Pacific we have PIRADE Pacific Islands Regional Association of Distance
Education. If you send me an address, I could send you a copy of their
newsletter.
Bob, I won't prattle on for too long as I'm not sure specifically what you
wanted to know but I'm happy to stay in communication.
Cheers
Maggie Kenyon
Ministry of Health, Solomon Islands
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 12:00:00 NZDT From: <s.finau@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ> Subject: Distance Education in Solomon Islands
Folks
Don't forget that USP have been in distance education for yonks and at all
levels including graduate and post-graduate degrees plus the Certificates in
Community Nutrition, Disability Studies and Pre-school Education. These have
been running for years. Check out these USP courses first in case of the
proverbial wheel or educational buccaneering.
Cheers
Dr Sitaleki 'Ata'ata Finau
Department of Maori and Pacific Health
The University of Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
