The Independent State of Samoa has temporarily closed schools due to a significant spike in Dengue fever cases in this South Pacific Ocean country.
The Government of Samoa, Issue No.14, indicates the most affected areas include Northwest Upolu and the Apia Urban areas, although the mosquito-transmitted virus has spread across the country.
According to a post on Facebook, Caretaker Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio announced that schools will reopen following a thorough fumigation process.
In the statement, he said, “The closure of all schools nationwide will last one week, from July 28 to August 1, 2025, while school fumigation programs are carried out.”
From January to July 20, 2025, Samoa recorded 1,756 laboratory-confirmed cases of Dengue, with hospital reports indicating an average of over 100 new cases each week.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of two of Dengue’s four serotypes circulating in the country: DENV-1 and DENV-2.
Samoa, with about 200,000 residents and a featured vacation destination, is located west of American Samoa, which is also confronting a Dengue outbreak in 2025.
To alert all international travelers of this active health risk, the U.S. CDC updated its Dengue Travel Health Advisory in 2025. While Dengue vaccines have been approved, access is currently limited by country.