key: cord-0917670-q086m77i
authors: Diarra, Ivan; Muna, Lency; Diarra, Umar
title: How the Islands of the South Pacific have remained relatively unscathed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
date: 2020-07-10
journal: J Microbiol Immunol Infect
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.06.015
sha: 36d36156da7a3acc93935511d2b61437bbfee018
doc_id: 917670
cord_uid: q086m77i

nan

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed unprecedented consequences on the global community with current figures from the WHO (as of June 12th, 2020) estimate about 7,355,981 cases and 416,891 deaths in 215 countries-making this the largest pandemic in human history. 1 Although the pandemic has rapidly spread globally, the least affected region of the world are the Islands of the South Pacific, which have remained relatively unscathed. According to recent data compiled by John Hopkins University, amongst the twelve countries currently without a single registered case of COVID-19, ten are in the South Pacific region (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu). Although many have cited the remoteness of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), especially from major epicenters of the pandemic (Europe, East Asia, North America), as a major factor for this insulation, it should be mentioned that PICTs were among the earliest to take proactive steps and initiatives to curb the pandemic.

In the last quarter of 2019, PICTs witnessed the re-emergence of measles, with outbreaks declared in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and American Samoa, and cases reported in Kiribati. In response, PICTs made serious efforts to close immunity gaps in their populations and strengthen infectious disease prevention, surveillance and response systems. As reports of the coronavirus accrued in China, PICT governments drew on the experience and lessons from tackling the immediate measles outbreak, regional governments were prompt to prepare contingency plans in anticipation of COVID-19. Additionally, the WHO in the Pacific coordinated with humanitarian and development partners including key regional players such as Australia, New Zealand, and The Pacific Community (SPC), to support and guide Pacific Island countries in preparedness, surveillance, and response activities and supply of personal protective and medical equipment required for health care facilities. A recent study from the "Imperial College London COVID-19 Response Team" argues that the effectiveness of any one intervention in isolation is likely to be limited, requiring multiple interventions to be combined to have a substantial impact on transmission. 3 Therefore, community-wide surveillance will need to be sustained in addition to social distancing, travel and movement restrictions to help control the pandemic.

WHO. WHO Coronavirus Disease

85% of Fiji's population screened for COVID-19

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 2020

Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.