A DENGUE outbreak has been declared in Nadi and Ba.

The Health Ministry yesterday confirmed the Western Division recorded 312 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus since the beginning of this year.

In a statement released yesterday, the ministry said it had recorded 862 confirmed dengue cases in Fiji from January 1 to February 16 this year of which 509 were from the Northern Division and 41 from the Central Division.

The ministry has called on the public to take precaution and destroy mosquito breeding receptacles, saying the number of confirmed cases continued to rise for the Western Division at this time of the year.

"We are monitoring an increase in cases from other subdivisions in the West," the statement from the ministry stated.

So far, 140 admissions have been recorded in the West. Of these, 51 were admitted at Ba Mission Hospital, 54 at Nadi Subdivisional Hospital, 10 in Sigatoka and 25 at the Lautoka Divisional Hospital.

"Again, the majority of admissions have been in Nadi and Ba, with each receiving approximately 10 per week."

The ministry confirmed reports from the ministry's western divisional outbreak and response team that most of these patients have been admitted with severe dengue. "The Western Division team has led the response to the increase in cases, through the treatment of patients and investigation of cases.

"They will continue to receive technical assistance from the ministry's Fiji Centre for Communicable Disease Control.

"The western team has had regular communication with the ministry's Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services, who has worked to ensure timely procurement and deployment of needed medical supplies."

Members of the public have been advised to see a doctor if they begin to experience dengue-like symptoms.

"We urge the people of Fiji to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes through the use of diethyltoluamide (DEET) containing repellents," said the ministry. "Mosquito surveys conducted by the ministry's Nadi health office in January reported a very high level of breeding of the mosquitoes that spread dengue fever, that is, the Aedes species mosquitoes. With a high level of breeding, and an ongoing outbreak, the risk is high that more and more people will get dengue fever."

The ministry also said clean-up campaigns were launched with municipal partners from November last year in a bid to reduce breeding areas.

According to the ministry, people were also urged to conduct weekly clean-ups and remove water holding receptacles in homes, yards and workplaces.

"The elimination of mosquito breeding places needs to become a routine activity for all of us. We urge the public to take heed of this advice to prevent yourselves and your loved ones from getting dengue fever."

Shayal Devi
The Fiji Times
Wednesday, February 21, 2018