Dengue Outbreak in American Samoa, 2025
- Presentation Day/Time: Thursday, April 23, 3:45 PM
- Presenter: Emily Trautner, MD, MSc, EIS officer assigned to the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
The Issue
- On July 8, 2025, American Samoa announced a public health emergency after confirming six dengue cases. Two cases were locally acquired, and four cases were associated with travel to neighboring Samoa. As of mid-April 2026, the outbreak declaration is still active.
What We Did
- We investigated the burden and characteristics of the ongoing outbreak and provided clinicians with educational materials and dengue management training.
What We Found
- During June 20–November 18, 2025, a total of 409 dengue cases were identified, most of which (76%) were among children under 18 years old. During June–July, 24% of cases were locally acquired, increasing to 67% in August, 84% in September, and 94% in October. Overall, 179 (44%) persons required hospitalization, and none died. After the dengue management training, 93% of surveyed clinicians reported increased dengue knowledge.
What This Means
- This is the first dengue outbreak in American Samoa since 2018, with transmission lasting over 9 months. Children experienced the highest disease burden and should be prioritized for prevention and control efforts. Knowledge of dengue treatment protocols in an outbreak can be improved through refresher clinical training.
