28 May 2025 (CKT)
Te Marae Ora wishes to provide an update on the ongoing dengue situation currently affecting Rarotonga. 17 cases have been recorded to date, with nine currently considered active and eight have fully recovered. To date all cases have been Cook Islands residents or returning locals and have been contained to local housing. The average rate remains stable at approximately 1 confirmed case per day.
TMO continues to manage the current dengue situation effectively with:
Vector control measures
- Operation Namu started last week with an Island wide clean up on Friday 23rd May. A total of 190 people were registered from government and private sectors.
- For all identified cases, peri focal and block spraying has been carried out around their household.
- We are working towards other community wide cleaning measures such as slashing and clearing of streams. During the mass cleaning the following amount of rubbish was collected.
| Row Labels | GENERAL WASTE (KG) | GLASS BOTTLES (KG) | ALI CANS (KG) | TIN CANS (KG) | PLASTIC BOTLLES (KG) |
| Grand Total | 1491 | 1094 | 615 | 74 | 532.8 |
- Public awareness campaigns, focusing on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and recognising dengue symptoms early.
- Enhanced surveillance, with daily case monitoring and timely laboratory confirmation.
Symptoms: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, rash, and in some cases, bleeding. While most cases resolve without complications, severe dengue can require immediate medical attention. Most reported cases in Rarotonga have been mild.
What the public can do:
- Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants, especially during dawn and dusk.
- Seek immediate medical care if experiencing symptoms consistent with dengue.
- Protect your family by keeping surroundings clean and reducing mosquito exposure.
- Use plug in mosquito repellent in your accommodation.
Te Marae Ora continues to monitor and manage the situation to prevent further spread. Support from the public is crucial.
If you suspect you or a family member may have dengue, seek medical advice immediately. For more details, please contact:
- Public Health Office: +682 29110
- Tupapa Primary Health Care: +682 20065 or +682 20066
- Rarotonga Hospital: +682 22664 (after hours)
- Email: tmo.helpdesk@cookislands.gov.ck
Stay informed. Stay safe.
ENDS.