TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges to implementation and strengthening of initial COVID-19 surveillance in Vanuatu
T2 - January–April 2020
AU - Vanuatu Ministry of Health’s National Health Emergency Operations Centre
AU - Williams, Wendy
AU - van Gemert, Caroline
AU - Mariasua, Joanne
AU - Iavro, Edna
AU - Fred, Debbie
AU - Nausien, Johnny
AU - Manwo, Obed
AU - Atua, Vincent
AU - Pakoa, George Junior
AU - Taissets, Annie
AU - Knox, Tessa B.
AU - Buttsworth, Michael
AU - Clark, Geoff
AU - Cornish, Matthew
AU - Tapo, Posikai Samuel
AU - Tarivonda, Len
AU - Guyant, Philippe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, World Health Organization. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/4/1
Y1 - 2023/4/1
N2 - The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases, including epidemics and pandemics; chronic food and water insecurity; and natural hazards, including cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and flooding. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. By the end of April 2020, Vanuatu had reported no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Data from several sources are collected in Vanuatu’s COVID-19 surveillance system to provide an overview of the situation, including data from case investigations and management, syndromic surveillance for influenza-like illness, hospital surveillance and laboratory surveillance. Review of data collected from January to the end of April 2020 suggests that there was no sustained increase in influenza-like illness in the community and no confirmed cases were identified. Lessons learnt from the early implementation of surveillance activities, the changing landscape of laboratory testing and pharmaceutical interventions, as well as the global experience, particularly in other Pacific island countries, will inform the refinement of COVID-19 surveillance activities in Vanuatu.
AB - The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases, including epidemics and pandemics; chronic food and water insecurity; and natural hazards, including cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and flooding. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. By the end of April 2020, Vanuatu had reported no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Data from several sources are collected in Vanuatu’s COVID-19 surveillance system to provide an overview of the situation, including data from case investigations and management, syndromic surveillance for influenza-like illness, hospital surveillance and laboratory surveillance. Review of data collected from January to the end of April 2020 suggests that there was no sustained increase in influenza-like illness in the community and no confirmed cases were identified. Lessons learnt from the early implementation of surveillance activities, the changing landscape of laboratory testing and pharmaceutical interventions, as well as the global experience, particularly in other Pacific island countries, will inform the refinement of COVID-19 surveillance activities in Vanuatu.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116532304&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85116532304&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.2.012
DO - 10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.2.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 34540314
AN - SCOPUS:85116532304
SN - 2094-7321
VL - 12
JO - Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR
JF - Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR
IS - 2
ER -