Country: Tonga Source: Government of Tonga Please refer to the attached file. HighlightsAs of today, 4 new cases reported with positive rapid test, that brings up the total DF cases to 73.Majority of confirmed cases from Tongatapu (33), the rest from Vava’u (28) and ‘Eua (12).Age group mostly affected is 10-19 years old.A total of 5 cases are currently hospitalized (4 Vaiola, 1 Niu’eiki), and all are stable.No dengue-related death reported so far.It is now confirmed that Dengue Virus Type 2 is responsible for the current dengue outbreak in Tonga according to the first batch of samples collected from Tongatapu. The result for the 2nd batch which included samples from Vava’u and ‘Eua is expected to be available later this week.The Ministry extends its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the people of Tonga, government ministries and all the stakeholders for the ongoing collaboration and support in our effort to mitigate the dengue outbreak since its official declaration. A special acknowledgement of the immediate supports from the Chinese Embassy in Tonga and the Government of Australia through DFAT to strengthen the current DF outbreak response.Preventative activities to hot spot and high risk areas in collaboration with Tonga Red Cross Society, are ongoing with continuous technical support from WHO, UNICEF and SPC.Recommendations for the Public1. Continue to clean up and destroy mosquito breeding sites around the HOME and SCHOOLS2. Wear appropriate clothing to minimize mosquito bites3. Use mosquito nets and repellents such as lotion and spray4. If you are sick, watch out for severe symptoms and seek medical attention immediately