Dialogue Fiji has voiced significant concerns regarding perceived institutional inertia at Fiji’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), particularly as renewed outbreaks of the Nipah virus arise across Asia. This warning comes as the country may not be adequately prepared for potential health crises.
Recent reports of Nipah infections in India, Bangladesh, and China have prompted countries to heighten their surveillance efforts and reintroduce health checks and quarantine measures similar to those during the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its pandemic potential. Among the world’s most dangerous zoonotic diseases, Nipah virus can lead to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis, with mortality rates that range from 40% to 75%. With no licensed vaccine or definitive treatment currently available, the importance of prevention, surveillance, and effective public communication cannot be overstated.
Nilesh Lal, executive director of Dialogue Fiji, emphasized the potential catastrophic consequences if a pathogen with such high mortality enters a country with limited intensive care capacity and surveillance infrastructure. He criticized the CDC for its lack of visibility and communication with the public, pointing out the absence of a public website, regular advisories, or even a social media presence. In this digital age, Lal argues that a national disease control agency must engage in public health communication as a core function.
The organization noted that similar gaps arose during last year’s dengue outbreak, where regular public reports were lacking despite serious illness and fatalities. They expressed concerns regarding the lack of efforts to acquire dengue vaccines for at-risk populations, and similarly lamented the absence of a public COVID-19 surveillance dashboard, routine reporting, or updates on bivalent vaccines. The public also received scant information about circulating respiratory viruses, including influenza A and RSV, both of which pose risks to vulnerable groups.
Lal asserted that public health relies on transparency, surveillance, and trust. He stressed that without real-time information, citizens cannot make informed decisions, which ultimately erodes the credibility of health institutions. Additionally, Dialogue Fiji expressed alarm over the lack of publicly communicated border health measures, especially as travelers from known Nipah hotspots arrive in Fiji daily.
“The absence of visible border health protocols for a virus with pandemic potential is troubling,” Lal stated, urging that Fiji should not repeat the transparency issues experienced during the COVID-19 era that compromised public confidence.
In light of these concerns, Dialogue Fiji is urging the Ministry of Health and the Government of Fiji to urgently revitalize the CDC, establish a transparent public disease surveillance platform, and proactively communicate health risks to the community. Lal concluded with hope for the future, affirming that a credible and operational CDC represents a cornerstone of national security and social trust. He expressed optimism that the CDC could once again be an institution that Fijians can rely on for timely information and guidance.
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