Fight Dengue Through Public Health Vector Management Training in Apia, Samoa

July 2026 (Apia, Samoa) – In response to a continued outbreak of dengue fever persisting in Samoa, the Samoa Ministry of Health (MoH) hosted a Public Health Vector Management Training program in Apia, July 27-31, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Army Public Health Command-Pacific (PHC-P). The training was led by a team of U.S. Army PHC-P Entomologists.  

A total of 29 participants from the Integrated Vector Control Committee comprised of Samoa’s Ministry of Health Public Health Staff, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Customs, Samoa Port Authority, Samoa Tourism Authority, Samoa Red Cross Society, Samoa Agriculture Store Company, and the U.S. Embassy attended the training. All 29 participants passed a rigorous challenge exam at the end of the five-day training and were issued certificates in collaboration with the Pacific Vector Network (PVN).

The PVN serves as a regional network of vector control professionals, public health practitioners, researchers, and partner organizations working together to strengthen vector surveillance, control, outbreak preparedness and response across the 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).  In April 2025, the PVN was officially endorsed as the 7^th service network of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) at the 27^th PPSHN Coordinating Body Meeting.



This multi-agency training effort demonstrates yet another way the PVN can provide valuable resources, remote personnel support, as well as certify training(s) for Pacific Island partners across the region. The PVN’s mission is to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases across the PICTs.

According to Samoa PVN member Christina Ulberg, “This training is the first of its kind, which we have been able to include the Integrated Vector Control Committee members from different Ministries and Organizations and the Public Health team, to ensure their capacity is built to solidify engagement to help control the Vectors causing Dengue Fever.” 

At its annual PVN Working Body Meeting held in June 2026, PVN members convened in-person to assess progress from FY2025 and to prioritize strategies and objectives for FY2026. Expanding capacity building opportunities, strengthening regional collaboration, and addressing training, outbreak readiness and preparedness were all identified.

The July 2026 training program aligned with these PVN priorities targeting integrated vector management approaches to mosquito control and dengue prevention. Participants were presented with public health pest management curriculum endorsed by the PVN, as well as on-the-ground exercises to demonstrate best practices for adult and larval mosquito detection, surveillance, identification, and control.

Alosio Tagilima, Principal Sanitation and Vector Control Officer from the Samoa MoH noted that the scope of the training was most valuable as it included a range of other pests and provided novel insecticide technologies which can be used for application to different settings in Samoa.



For any questions, please contact the Samoa Ministry of Health Samoa:

Ph (+685)66600