In 1996-97, the last dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) outbreak occurred in French Polynesia. In February 2019, DENV-2 infection was detected in a traveller from New Caledonia. In March, autochthonous DENV-2 infection was diagnosed in two residents. A DENV-2 outbreak was declared on 10 April with 106 cases as at 24 June. Most of the population is not immune to DENV-2; a large epidemic could occur with risk of imported cases in mainland France.
Keywords: Dengue virus; French Polynesia; Pacific; outbreak; serotype 2.