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Suspected but unconfirmed COVID-19 case in Pohnpei
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Posted on Dec 21 2021
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—As of Dec. 18, 2021, there is a suspected though unconfirmed case of COVID-19 in Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia.
From the week of Dec. 6 to Dec. 12, 2021, an unusual spike in influenza-like illnesses triggered the medical and public health teams to expand their surveillance efforts, which led to a 19-year-old male testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 15, 2021. A subsequent test, however, which occurred on Dec. 16, 2021, was negative; this latter information is consistent with a historical, recovered, and non-infectious case.
Though this specific case appeared non-infectious, the person under investigation is being monitored. The PUI does not have any known recent travel history, i.e. is not a repatriated person, and so while this may not be an active COVID-19 case, further investigation is both necessary and ongoing. As of this release, it is unknown whether this was simply a false positive (which is not impossible), or if it could mean community spread of COVID-19.
The PUI and his close contacts are presently in home quarantine. Contact tracing and testing is being expanded throughout Pohnpei and the rest of the FSM. The persons at the PUI’s workplace are also undergoing testing, which remains ongoing at the time of this release. (PR)
