Melanesia and Micronesia-Polynesia This section includes general information about health hazards as reported by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The region includes American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wake Island, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands. The area covers an enormous expanse of ocean with the larger, mountainous, tropical and monsoon rainforest-covered islands of the west giving way to smaller, originally volcanic peaks and coral islands of the east. Arthropod-borne diseases occur in the majority of the islands. Malaria is endemic in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Filariasis is widespread but its prevalence varies. Mite-borne typhus has been reported from Papua New Guinea. Dengue fever, including its hemorrhagic form, can occur in epidemics in most islands. Foodborne and waterborne diseases such as the diarrheal diseases, typhoid fever, and helminthic infections are commonly reported. Biointoxication may occur from raw or cooked fish and shellfish. Hepatitis A occurs in this area. Hepatitis B is endemic. No cases of poliomyelitis have been reported from any of these islands for more than five years. Trachoma occurs in parts of Melanesia. Hazards to bathers are coelenterates, poisonous fish, and sea snakes.