Dengue risk for travellers: Samoa is facing a dengue fever outbreak, and Australian and New Zealand travel advisories are urging people to prevent mosquito bites with repellent and protective clothing, after thousands of confirmed cases and hospitalisations were reported across the Pacific. Breast cancer support in the Cook Islands community: The Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation’s Beehive Ball in Wellington is set to bring major entertainers together to raise funds for a cause that can save lives. Breast screening access for Cook Islands women: Stars are uniting to help Cook Islands women get access to life-saving breast screening. Heart health study rooted in culture: A Cook Islands Māori PhD researcher at the University of Otago is exploring whether bathing in naturally warm lagoon waters could support heart health, linking science with community knowledge. Language revival push: Cook Islands Māori Language Week is highlighting urgent support needs for te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, with experts warning language loss has reached a critical point. Scabies as a public health priority: A commentary argues scabies is far more than an itchy rash, linking it to serious skin infections and wider health impacts, and calling for it to be treated as a priority. Deep-sea exploration near the Cook Islands: NOAA’s Okeanos expedition is surveying deep waters near the Cook Islands, with live-style updates planned as a remotely operated vehicle maps and collects marine data. Waste and plastics: A local-focused piece discusses why incineration is often a poor fit for small island waste systems, and highlights the real pressure plastics create for Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.