Feral pigs as a reservoir for zoonotic and transboundary diseases in the Western Pacific Region

@#Feral pigs are known as triple-threat pests due to their impact on health, agriculture and the ecosystem. Recent emerging infectious disease outbreaks have emphasized their role as reservoirs and amplifiers of disease and highlight the need for increased surveillance in the Western Pacific Region.

Shigellosis: A truly neglected disease in Papua New Guinea

@#Diarrhoeal diseases still affect many people, especially children living in impoverished and under-developed settings. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) diarrhoea remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and a major cause of death. Here, we focus on the role of Shigella in diarrhoeal illness in PNG, and provide an overview of the causative organism and the illness. A review of the available data on the aetiology of diarrhoea in PNG suggests that shigellosis is a major cause of diarrhoeal illness. Since shigellosis can cause protracted and life-threatening illness an appreciation of the burden of shigellosis is important to aid in the development of optimal prevention and control strategies. Treatment strategies for all cases of moderate-severe diarrhoeal illness should centre on rehydration, but where antimicrobial treatment is required consideration should be given to the increasing antimicrobial resistance observed in Shigella isolates in PNG.