June 5, 2023 (Honolulu, HI) – Twenty-one Pacific Island Countries and Territories kicked off the Inaugural Pacific Vector Network (PVN) meeting today in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The PVN is a critical network for the continued protection and health security of our island nations, territories, and communities.

Environmental health managers, vector control specialists, and partners from across the Pacific shared vector control strategies, roles of regional networks, capacity-building projects, and country reports on vector surveillance and control in Hawai’i, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.

Later this week, meeting participants will learn about implementing Early Warning Systems (EWS) against mosquito-borne diseases as a critical tool to proactively protect our island communities and to learn from those who are already implementing an EWS program.

A big thank you to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Pacific Fund and the Pacific Community, who have contributed funding to support the meeting.

Check out the PIHOA Facebook Page for photos from the meeting!