Australia Supports Tonga Zika Virus Outbreak Response Efforts ^Featured

The vehicle will support Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Environmental Health Unit, in their efforts to combat the spread of the Zika virus, and other vector borne diseases in Tonga.

Tonga, through their National Zika Response Plan, has been working to reduce the spread of the Zika epidemic in Tonga.  Tonga has reported a cumulative total of 2299 cases including 41 cases of suspected Zika in pregnant women. Tonga’s efforts are seeing a real impact on the ground, with downward trend in the number of new weekly cases of infection from over 600 at its peak, to now under 60 new cases.

Tonga, with the assistance of Australia, New Zealand, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Tonga Red Cross Society, has undertaken a mammoth effort to improve surveillance, particularly that of pregnant women, and to reduce the spread of Zika, through Tonga’s National Response Plan and clean-up campaign. The national clean-up campaign has resulted in the collection of over 55,000 tonnes of rubbish, in two months, destroying potential breeding sites for the mosquito responsible for the spread of the Zika virus.

Australia has committed $500,000, through the WHO, to assist Pacific Islands, including Tonga, to combat Zika. In addition, to this over $250,000 has been committed bilaterally, through the Tonga Health Systems Strengthening Program, to further support Tonga’s National Zika Response Plan. Australia’s support will focus on preventing the spread of the virus through vector control measures and providing much needed equipment and supplies. Australia’s support will also assist the MoH to strengthen hospital services to manage the immediate and potential long-term associated complications of Zika. Zika virus presents with similar symptoms to dengue and chikungunya but has been linked to possible associations with congenital malformations (microcephaly) in babies and neurological conditions such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

“We tust that this vector control vehicle will assist the Ministry of Health in their efforts to combat not only the Zika Virus, but other vector borne diseases that impact on Tonga such as Dengue and Chikungunya.” Andrew Ford, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga.

MOH