Short Communication
A severe diarrhoeal outbreak in a remote Pacific island community, Anuta Island, Solomon Islands, April–June 2019
AUTHORS
Adam T Craig1 PhD, MPH, Lecturer, Global Health *
Samuel Manu2 BN, Surveillance Officer
Rolly Viga3 MPH, Surveillance Officer
Cynthia A Joshua4 BSc, National Surveillance Coordinator
Jane Saepioh 5 BN, Infection Control Officer
Alison R Sio6 MPH, Manager
AFFILIATIONS
1 School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
2 Lata Hospital, Temotu Provincial Health Office, Solomon Islands
3, 4, 5, 6 National Surveillance and Risk Assessment Unit, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
ACCEPTED: 16 July 2020
Adam Craig: A severe diarrhoeal outbreak in a remote Solomon Islands community
early abstract:
Context: Solomon Islands is a small island developing island State located in the south-western Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 680,000 people spread over one-third of the 992 islands that make up the country. Approximately 80% of the population reside in rural areas; many on remote, difficult to reach and poorly serviced island settings.
Issue: In May 2019, the national surveillance system detected a rumour of a severe diarrhoea outbreak in a very remote and isolated community on Anuta island, located halfway between the Solomon Islands archipelago and Tuvalu. We report the investigation and response to the outbreak that affecting 50 people (attack rate of 21.5%) and causing four deaths (case fatality rate of 8%). We highlight the system challenges faced in mounting the response and provide suggestions that may help overcome them.
Lessons learned: The outbreak highlighted the challenges in detecting and responding to outbreaks in remote and rural areas of the Pacific islands, and the limitations of rumour surveillance as a relied upon surveillance strategy. The outbreak emphasises the need to build local capacity to detect, report, and respond to outbreaks and the need for policy frameworks that ensure remote communities receive adequate health protection services.