Striving for a sustainable surveillance of Ciguatera Poisoning in the Pacific: the Ciguawatch initiative.

The South Pacific region is a well known historical hotspot for Ciguatera Poisoning (CP), This disease represents a major threat to food sustainability and food security in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) due to the strong reliance of island communities on fish products for their daily subsistence. Hence, benefiting from reliable and effective CP mitigation programs is critical for PICT populations. According to the Code of Practice CXC 83-2024 of the Codex Alimentarius, successful CP risk surveillance relies primarily on the availability of accurate epidemiological data combined with proper environmental monitoring programs. In the frame of the Pacific Ciguawatch Initiative led by the Institut Louis Malardé (ILM) of French Polynesia, several Environnement, Fisheries and Health personnels of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna (WF) were trained to the environmental and epidemiological surveillance of CP using standardized data collection methodologies to facilitate further comparison of CP trends across the Pacific region. On-line trainings delivered during 2024 were completed by on-site trainings conducted from April 19th to May 5th. Field activities consisted in (i) the deployment of artificial substrate devices (i.e. window-screens) followed by microscope observation sessions ; (ii) awareness-raising interventions targeted at the health staff of WF hospitals with regards to CP reporting using the declaration application available on the ciguawatch.ilm.pf e-platform ; (iii) educational activities with schoolchildren of the Malae’fo’ou Elementary School of Wallis. The practical outcomes of this regional cooperation program will hopefully contribute to strengthen local monitoring and management capacities with regards to CP risk in WF.