A life-threatening type of dengue fever confirmed in Samoa

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa -15 April 2025 – The Director General of Health, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma has confirmed that a life-threatening type of dengue fever was the cause of death of the 12-year-old boy in the weekend.

He said the boy was admitted on Wednesday in a poor state and was diagnosed with Haemorrhagic Dengue Fever.

“This type is more severe and life threatening than the usual dengue fever,” Aiono confirmed.

He is not sure whether the young boy contracted the virus in Fiji where similar cases have been reported and their surveillance team are conducting a contact tracing.

He also confirmed that only one blood donor donated for the boy while at the hospital was tested positive but had no symptoms.

The Ministry of Health recently declared a dengue fever outbreak which prompted a media campaign including fumigation of schools and mosquitoes breeding places.

“The number of cases is below 5 per week and we declared a Pertussis outbreak about 3 months ago and the numbers have also gone down,” said Aiono.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Haemorrhagic Dengue Fever, as a “severe and potentially fatal form of dengue fever, characterized by bleeding, shock and organ damage, and it is a more severe presentation of the illness often accompanied by high fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting and other haemorrhagic manifestation.”

Other symptoms include difficulty in breathing and bleeding nose.

The Ministry is on alert and conducting more research and contact tracing of where the virus originated.

Meanwhile, Fiji has declared a dengue fever outbreak.