Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An ASG press release distributed yesterday, noted that Director of Education, Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e met with Director of Public Health, Dr. Saipale Fuimaono to discuss efforts to take preventive measures against the dengue fever outbreak among school children. It states in part that in a recent meeting with the local Department of Health, a total of 2, 277 cases of dengue fever were reported in Samoa, while the current count of identified dengue fever cases in American Samoa is 21 and rising.

As a result, Dr. Taufete’e has decided to delay the start of all public schools from August 25. 2025 to September 2. 2025.

However, all Department of Education employees will continue to report to work as scheduled on August 18. 2025.

The press release continues that the Department of Education will work collaboratively with Department of Health, supporting agencies, and the community to provide awareness of mosquito breeding grounds, and ensure proper spraying of breeding grounds is provided at every school site.

The extended time will also allow the Department of Education to take action against the dengue fever outbreak and to ensure that all public schools are safe and ready for the return of students on September 2, 2025.

All DOE leadership and support staff will be involved in this effort and will keep the parents and community members informed accordingly.

 If there are any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact DOE Director Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufetee at mary taufetee @ doe.as. Deputy Director Dr. Roxanne Suaava-Salavea at roxanne salavca @ doe.as, Deputy Director Athena Mauga at athena.mauga @ doe.as, or Deputy Director Lance Glodowski at lance.glodowski/@doe.as. or call 633-5237.

In Samoa, schools continue to be recessed in response to the dengue fever outbreak in the country.

“Since January 2025, a total of 5670 clinically diagnosed cases have been recorded, of which 2619 are dengue lab-confirmed cases,” according to the latest press release/ report, dated Aug. 4, 2025, from the Samoa Ministry of Health.

It further reported that “in this epi-week, there were 1446 clinically diagnosed dengue cases” recorded from all health facilities in Upolu and Savai’i including TTMH (331 cases), of which 342 are dengue lab-confirmed cases.”

Sadly, the Ministry reports that there have been 4 confirmed dengue-related deaths and 1 probable dengue-related death awaiting confirmation.

For American Samoa, the last DoH report on dengue fever cases in the territory was that as of July 31, 2025, it has recorded 25 laboratory confirmed cases, and continues to take preventative measures — teams have been spraying for mosquitoes that spread the virus (dengue fever) in villages throughout the Territory.

DoH is asking for the community’s support to stop the spread and is calling for everyone’s help, such as ensuring you are doing your part to prevent the spread by:

•        Dumping Standing Water from old tires, buckets, pots — even bottle caps! Mosquitoes love to breed there.

•        Protecting Yourself — use mosquito repellent + wear long sleeves, especially during early morning & late afternoon.

•        Keeping Mosquitoes Out — use screens on windows & doors. Sleep under a net if needed.

•        Acting as a Community — join clean-up drives & report mosquito hotspots to your local health office.

Let’s keep our families & neighborhoods safe, it encourages.