Current outbreaks and emergencies

WHO continues to share the latest evidence on COVID-19 and prepare for and respond to any surges of the virus.

Community health workers wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) spraying insecticide to control mosquito larvae in the communities of Tuvalu.

Data from the Western Pacific Region show an escalation in dengue outbreaks. Since January 2024, several countries have reported a rise in dengue.

Lab technician in protective clothing mixes mpox samples in a biosafety cabinet

Mpox Outbreak

Since early May 2022, cases of mpox (monkeypox) have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic and continue to be reported in several endemic countries.

Food safety

Situation reports

Disease outbreak news

Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal

Past health emergencies

Communicating risk in public health emergencies

Our work in emergencies

Emergency news

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20 April 2024

WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region strengthen risk communication through behavioural insights

3 May 2024

Joint News Release

Joint External Evaluation in Kingdom of Tonga marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to strengthening health security

4 April 2024

News release

Dzud emergency in Mongolia moves to risk of floods and environmental contamination

1 March 2024

Tonga becomes first Pacific island country to apply WHO’s Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risk (STAR)

Featured publication

Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework

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Feature stories

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29 May 2024

WHO takes action against increasing dengue outbreaks in the Western Pacific Region

15 May 2024

WHO strengthens coordination for public health emergency operations in the Western Pacific

20 April 2024

WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region strengthen risk communication through behavioural insights

1 March 2024

Tonga becomes first Pacific island country to apply WHO’s Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risk (STAR)

18 December 2023

Regional experts strengthen leadership skills to better respond to disease outbreaks

18 December 2023

WHO champions a “One Health” approach when responding to outbreaks and health emergencies in the Western Pacific

18 December 2023

Emergency Medical Teams enhance domestic capacity to respond to public health emergencies

Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal

Founded in 2010, the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response journal (WPSAR) is an open access, peer-reviewed journal on all aspects of health security in response to public health events and emergencies in the Western Pacific Region. Since its establishment in late 2010, WPSAR has published 484 articles. This map shows a breakdown of the number of articles published by each Member State, as well as those covering the entire Western Pacific Region or all Pacific island countries and areas.