The influenza like illness (ILI) syndrome is the highest reported case of communicable diseases for the period January-December 2018 with a total of 37, 290 cases. 

An update courtesy of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Bulletin – produced by the National Health Surveillance and International Health Regulations Division within the Samoa Ministry of Health – confirmed that it was 33 per cent greater than the year average from the 2012-2016 period with an average of 27,969.  

According to the findings of the syndromic surveillance update – which is a method for reporting on diseases for rapid detection of response to public health threats, and monitoring disease trends – a total of 3,402 ILI cases were reported for December 2018 alone.

“It was 53 per cent greater than the December average from 2012-2016 (average number is 2,229) for ILI.”

“For other diseases, like diarrhea syndrome a total of 6,792 reported cases from January-December 2018 – which is 16 per cent greater than the year average from 2012-2016 (average number 5842.8) but 1,016 cases were reported for December alone.”

“One thousand one hundred and forty four cases reported for Prolonged Fever - 30.5 per cent greater than the year average 2012-2016 (average number 876.64) but 122 cases reported for December last year alone - 70 per cent greater than December average from 2012-2016 (average 71.8),” stated the report. 

The report also revealed that 771 reported cases of acute fever and rash; half that of the year average 2012-2016 (average number 1528.6). 

“A total of 1,371 reported cases of dengue-like fever syndrome but 42 cases reported in December 2018 and no cases of acute flaccid paralysis or neonatal tetanus reported in 2018.”

“In 2018, 111 confirmed cases of typhoid in Upolu which is 35 extra typhoid cases, and a 46 per cent increase compared to the average number per year 2013-2017 (average number 76.0) but only 11 confirmed cases during December 2018 alone.”

“A total of 401 confirmed cases of dengue from January to December and only eight cases in December but for Leptospirosis in 2018 only had 15 cases.”

Under the Samoa Health Ordinance 1959 (Public Health), health professionals and laboratories are required to report cases or clusters of notifiable diseases.