27 February 2026 (CKT)
After 22 days of executing Operation Namu26, Atiu has managed to bring the dengue outbreak under control on the island.
Weather conditions this week allowed Rarotonga and Aitutaki to intensify their planned spraying activities, including targeted spraying of community halls, churches and wreck sites in some puna on Rarotonga. Slashing of overgrown areas continued around the puna on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Discussions to clear blocked drainage and streams, following heavy rainfall over the past few weeks, are also scheduled for the coming week.
Mauke and Mangaia continued routine perifocal spraying for positive cases.
On Monday, 23 February 2026, Te Marae Ora stood up passenger screening for domestic travellers to the Northern Group, including spraying of aircraft cabins.
On Thursday, 26 February 2026, TMO held a dengue prevention briefing for passengers travelling to the Northern Group on board Anuanua Moana. To date, the Northern Group islands remain dengue-free
Mosquito Surveillance
On Thursday, 26 February 2026, outdoor trap monitoring on Rarotonga indicated a high density of positive Aedes adult mosquitoes at several locations, including Rarotonga International Airport, Tupapa Primary Care and Punanga Nui Market.
Indoor traps detected positive Aedes mosquitoes at Infrastructure Cook Islands, Avarua School, Blackrock Clinic, various locations within the hospital, Tereora College, and the Seaport Canteen.
Atiu reported no positive Aedes mosquitoes from its surveillance programme. No surveillance reports were received this week from Aitutaki, Mauke and Mangaia.
Dengue Prevention Packs
On Thursday, 26 February 2026, the Cook Islands Red Cross Society delivered 166 Dengue Prevention Packs since the activation of Operation Namu26
Of the 166 packs delivered this week:
- 22 were sent to Aitutaki
- 8 to Mangaia
- 4 to Mauke
- 4 to Atiu
- 128 were distributed to positive cases on Rarotonga.
Mosquito repellents continue to be supplied to churches on Rarotonga, and discussions are underway with selected school principals regarding repellent supply, based on findings from the mosquito surveillance programme.
30-Day Dengue Trend Monitoring
Atiu
Atiu recorded two positive cases on 6 February 2026 at the time of activation of Operation Namu26, followed by nine consecutive days with no cases. One additional case was recorded on Monday, 16 February 2026.
No positive cases have been recorded for the past 10 days (17–26 February 2026), and there are currently no active cases.
BG (6 traps) and OVI (18 traps) surveillance conducted on Thursday, 26 February 2026, indicated no positive Aedes mosquitoes or larvae. The outbreak on Atiu is considered contained; however, surveillance will continue.
Mauke
Mauke recorded five positive cases over the past 22 days, with the most recent case recorded on Friday, 20 February 2026.
No positive cases have been recorded for the past six days (21–26 February 2026), with one active case remaining on the island.
Perifocal and block spraying continue.
Mangaia
Mangaia recorded 10 positive cases over six days during the past 22 days, with the most recent case recorded on Monday, 23 February 2026.
There are currently two active cases on the island.
Aitutaki
Aitutaki recorded 18 positive cases over eight days during the past 22 days, with the most recent case recorded on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
There are currently 10 active cases.
Block spraying, perifocal spraying and mosquito surveillance continue.
Rarotonga
Rarotonga recorded 16 positive cases and 21 suspected cases on Friday, 6 February 2026, at the time of activation of Operation Namu26.
A total of 140 positive cases were recorded over the 20-day period from 6–25 February 2026. As at Thursday, 26 February 2026, there are 49 active cases.
The spraying programme on Rarotonga continues to be intensified, including targeted spraying of community halls, churches and wreck sites
END