3 children die in influenza outbreak [1]
Thursday, March 9, 2023 - 15:06
Three children have died from viral pneumonia caused by an Influenza B outbreak in Tonga, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
CEO of the Ministry of Health, Dr Siale 'Akau'ola told Matangi Tonga on 8 March, that the outbreak of influenza-like illnesses having been going on in Tonga for last eight to nine-weeks.
Three cases which led to fatalities have been reported to me so far: a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old and another 13-year-old child.”
He said incidences have been monitored at 10 surveillance sites throughout Tonga, and a trend of new cases appeared to have peaked on week eight of the outbreak, with an average of 30 cases per day with a total of about 180 cases per week.
“These are cases that reported to the surveillance sites. The number of cases for last week (week 9) of surveillance appears to show reduction in number by 18%. We understand that these figures are likely to be under-estimations, since mild and asymptomatic cases do not report to the surveillance sites,” he said.
"Three cases which led to fatalities have been reported to me so far: a 1 year old, a 3 year old and another 13 year old child.”
He said that all were reported to be due to viral pneumonia caused by Influenza B.
“We are still working with WHO to work out the significance of these major/unexpected adverse events and to plan a strategy to prevent it from happening again in future."
In addition, other respiratory viruses identified to have contributed to the outbreak of influenza like illnesses included, Influenza A, adenovirus, parainfluenza, rhino virus and other respiratory viruses, said Dr 'Akau'ola.
“We believe that the main reason behind the significant surge in this outbreak and the severity of consequences seen, may be due to long pause period, whereby we had no outbreak of Influenza like illnesses in Tonga for about three-years.
Travel restrictions from 2020-2022 had prevented the usual annual influenza like illnesses outbreaks in Tonga.
He said without these recurrent outbreaks happening, public immunity against these viruses would be expected to decline, making people more vulnerable to respiratory viruses infections, when the borders re-opened in August 2022.
In the meantime, the public have been advised with pre-cautionary measures to take care during this flu season by the Health Ministry.