Health Alerts

According to  a government report to the press on March 15  there have been 11,359 clinical confirmed cases of dengue fever  recorded from October last year to March 10 this year. The figures tend to fluctuate from year to year but this is among the largest outbreaks seen.  Reports are  currently  recorded largely from Government hospitals and clinics and the numbers are expected to go up  next week because more  general practitioners are reporting in. The Western Division (Nadi, Lautoka and the Coral Coast area) recorded the most cases. The usual dengue season in Fiji  runs from October to April  but may extend further this year particularly in the rainier Central Division which includes the capital, Suva. Although there is currently a national clean-up campaign aimed at destroying mosquito breeding sites a major effect of this is still to be seen. Travelers must ensure that personal insect repellants  are used regularly particularly in early mornings and late afternoons, and replenished after bathing..