Trans-Tasman teamwork: medical deployment to support Samoa’s dengue outbreak

04 Dec 2025

Samoa declared a national dengue outbreak in April 2025, triggering a major public health emergency as co-circulating dengue serotypes DENV-1 and DENV-2 drove a surge in paediatric cases and severe clinical presentations (Samoa Ministry of Health, 2025).

Hospital admissions spiked, prompting Samoa’s Ministry of Health to seek assistance from New Zealand. In response, the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT) deployed to Apia, providing clinical support at the capital’s main hospital and a community clinic. During a second rotation, four Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) doctors joined NZMAT for two weeks – a joint response demonstrating the value of trans-Tasman collaboration.

Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, can range from mild fever to severe plasma leakage and haemorrhage complications. Children are particularly vulnerable when multiple serotypes circulate at the same time.

By mid-September, Samoa had recorded more than 13,000 clinically diagnosed cases, over 4000 laboratory-confirmed cases, and six dengue-related deaths (Samoa Ministry of Health, 2025). Weekly hospital admissions exceeded 100 patients, placing unprecedented demand on the health system.

The Government of Samoa activated its National Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate whole-of-government actions, including vector control, community outreach and enhanced surveillance (Government of Samoa, 2025). External clinical support became vital as demand soared.

In August 2025, NZMAT deployed 31 personnel across two rotations bringing expertise in emergency medicine, paediatrics, public health and clinical logistics (New Zealand Ministry of Health 2025). AUSMAT’s contribution included four specialists:

Dr Katherine Gibney - Infectious Disease, Public Health and Epidemiology Specialist from Victoria
Dr James Fordyce - Emergency Specialist from Victoria
Dr Scott Sypek - Paediatrician from South Australia
Dr Conrad Ng - Emergency Specialist from Western Australia.

The interoperability of two Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) aligned with WHO EMT standards marked the first embedding of AUSMAT within NZMAT. The integrated team worked at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital and a busy community clinic, managing mild-to-moderate dengue and referring high-acuity cases to TTM.

A key focus of this deployment was collaborating with Samoan colleagues on early identification of high-risk cases and paediatric fluid management (WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, 2025). By sharing technical expertise with Samoan clinicians, the team helped embed sustainable skills that strengthens the health system beyond the deployment period.

The deployment underscored the importance of regional cooperation in public health emergencies. For the AUSMAT, the deployment offered a unique interoperability experience –working side by side with NZMAT and Samoan colleagues, learning from one another, and fostering strong professional ties.