Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Health has issued a travel health alert on social media after confirmation of three imported cases of dengue fever.

The department said the disease was found in travelers who had recently returned from Samoa.

Its statement made last week said there were no confirmed locally-acquired cases at that time.

“While there is no confirmed local transmission in American Samoa at this time, the presence of dengue in travelers returning from these affected countries increases the risk of the virus being introduced and spread locally by mosquitoes.”

Environmental spraying and monitoring have been underway at the affected residences and surrounding areas.

The health department has issued advice for travelers, including that those who have recently traveled to Samoa, Fiji, Tonga or other dengue-affected areas should monitor their health for 14 days upon return.

“Be alert for symptoms such as fever, rash, body aches, headache, or nausea. Seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms and inform your physician of any travel history.”

Samoa, Fiji and Tonga all declared dengue outbreaks earlier this year.

In its latest numbers released on June 27, Tonga’s dengue number had reached 884.

Samoa’s Ministry of Health is posting on social media to remind people “dengue fever hasn’t gone away” and offering advice.

It said Aedes mosquitoes are most active during early morning (6am-8am) and evening hours (4pm – 6pm).

“We can all prevent the spread of dengue by following easy preventative measures, such as wearing long sleeved clothes, remove all breeding sites, use repellent and mosquito net.”

(Source: Scoop.co.nz & RNZ Pacific)