VANUATU has moved to sharpen its measles outbreak response as Pacific countries work to protect communities from the disease, which was declared eliminated in the region in 2025.
The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), held a national simulation exercise in Port Vila last month to test how the country would respond if an imported measles case led to wider transmission.
Health officials said the drill was designed to mirror the risks facing island states with frequent travel links, where a single case can spread quickly if surveillance, laboratory systems and response teams are not ready.
The scenario began with an imported case, escalated to community transmission, and spread to outer islands, pushing national and provincial health leaders to work on contact tracing, vaccination response planning, infection prevention and control, risk communication, media management, and cross-sector coordination.
Director of Public Health Dr Jenny Stephen said the exercise would help channel investment into the parts of the system most likely to determine whether an outbreak is contained quickly.
“The simulation exercise has reinforced our commitment to ensuring that Vanuatu remains prepared for a potential measles outbreak,” Stephen said.
“The recommendations generated through this exercise will guide targeted investments to strengthen surveillance, laboratory coordination, immunization, risk communication, logistics, and emergency response systems, ultimately protecting the health of our communities.”
WHO Country Liaison Officer Dr Revite Kirition said elimination had not removed the threat.
“Elimination does not mean the risk is gone. It means we must stay ready,” Kirition said.
“This exercise is about making sure Vanuatu can respond quickly and effectively to protect our people if measles returns.”
Wendy Williams, manager of surveillance, said the simulation improved outbreak detection and coordination.
“This simulation exercise has strengthened our capacity to detect and respond to measles outbreaks through improved surveillance, data-driven decision-making, and coordinated emergency response,” Williams said.
“The lessons identified will directly inform priority actions to enhance early warning systems and ensure a timely and effective response to future outbreaks.”
The exercise highlighted several strengths, including clear measles case definitions and notification procedures, a shared understanding of the need for rapid response, and broad support for vaccination as the most effective way to stop transmission.
It also produced a set of recommendations to be implemented in the coming months, including operationalising the national measles outbreak preparedness and response plan, improving coverage for both vaccine doses, strengthening surveillance sensitivity, improving laboratory referral systems, ensuring logistics readiness, updating emergency communications and conducting regular simulation exercises.
National VDI Coordinator Simon Samson said the drill marked a step toward continuous improvement rather than a one-off assessment.
“This exercise is an important milestone in strengthening Vanuatu’s capacity to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks through coordinated planning and continuous improvement.”
