Contents

Surveillance & Response

• Samoa Influenza H3N2 Outbreak, August 2011
  Toleafoa Take Naseri [556 KB]
• Health surveillance for the XIV Pacific Games – NC 2011
  Martine Noel [797 KB]
• Using PPHSN for regional surveillance of health events during the 14th Pacific Games: mixed results
  Pascal Frison [730 KB]
• Legionella and legionellosis (legionnaires’ disease) in New Caledonia, 2005-2010
  Florence Urbès, Régis Goursaud and Éric D’Ortenzio [721 KB]
• The Pacific responds to STIs: progress made (2008-2011)
  Ian Wanyeki, Sophaganine Ty-Ali and Tebuka Toatu [834 KB]
• Developing sustainable influenza surveillance networks in the Pacific
  Salanieta Elbourne Duituturaga and Pascal Frison [662 KB]
• Influenza diagnosis – from rapid testing to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the Pacific
  Salanieta Elbourne Duituturaga [619 KB]
• Sensitivity and specificity of rapid diagnostic tests and immunofluorescence assay for influenza
  Anthony Kolbe [656 KB]

Meetings

• Second workshop for the three French Pacific Territories to share information and experience on common health issues
  Pascal Frison [615 KB]

In Brief

• Ciguatera fish poisoning in the Pacific Islands (1998 to 2008)
  Abstract and reference [510 KB]
• New SPC staff [528 KB]
• Strategic Health Communication training workshop for French Pacific Territories [509 KB]

• Inform’ACTION Review – List of selected articles classified according to disease and other topics [527 KB]

Editorial

A treasure trove of Pacific Island experience

As usual, this issue of Inform’ACTION features articles on public health practitioners’ realities in Pacific Island States and Territories. These precious contributions, which have filled the columns of Inform’ACTION since its inception in July 1998, represent a very valuable store of specific Pacific Island public health experience and practice in many areas (supplement attached).

Doctor Toleafoa Take Naseri of Samoa describes an H3N2 influenza epidemic that was detected in August 2011 through the syndromic surveillance system, introduced in that country a few months previously, and through an influenza confirmation mechanism. The latest progress in influenza surveillance and diagnostic techniques also features in this issue.

The surveillance and response section continues with an article by Doctor Martine Noel of New Caledonia, who describes the prevention, surveillance and response activities pursued as part of the 14 Pacific Games in New Caledonia in August-September 2011. Her article also presents the results of health surveillance work and the difficulties encountered in coordinating the various activities. The use of PPHSN in regional surveillance during the 14th Games is also referred to.

Legionellosis, a topic never previously addressed in Inform’ACTION, is covered in an article prepared by our colleagues from the New Caledonia Pasteur Institute, in which they describe their method of identifying Legionella bacteria in the environment and the biological diagnosis approach taken in suspected cases, as well as the results of research carried out in New Caledonia. They refer also to research they have conducted in Vanuatu and Wallis-and-Futuna. In this connection, we thought there was merit in including an overview of the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network. We would encourage you to notify this network of any case of disease detected in any Pacific Island State or Territory in persons normally resident in a European Union member State.

You will also find in this issue a report on progress in STI control in the Pacific, as well as a summary of an article on ciguatera in the Pacific Islands, another topic never previously tackled in Inform’ACTION.

Lastly, it is our pleasure to introduce two new colleagues, Ian Wanyeki and Tebuka Toatu, who have joined SPC recently. Also included is some information on a workshop and training course on strategic communication in health held in Noumea for the three French Pacific Territories.

We wish you a thoroughly enjoyable read. Please do not hesitate to send us your comments or any information or experience that you wish to share with your PPHSN colleagues.

Christelle Lepers
Surveillance Information and Communication Officer, SPC