Fiji officials vigilant as Solomon Islands dengue cases rise
As the total number of cases of dengue fever continue to rise on the Solomon Islands, officials in Fiji say they are vigilant in its prevention and surveillance of the mosquito borne viral disease, according to a Fiji Broadcasting Corp. report yesterday.
According to the report, National adviser for Communicable Diseases Dr. Eric Rafai told FBC News that Fiji is at risk from Dengue due to the close trade and travel relations with the Solomon Islands.
The latest numbers out of the Solomon Islands is 2,226 confirmed cases of dengue fever, including three fatalities. Approximately 10 percent of those infected have required hospitalization for their illness.
According to the WHO collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and research in Brisbane, it has confirmed that the type of dengue virus found was serotype 3.
The rise in the disease since January is linked to a earthquake and tsunami that occurred at that time.
The outbreak has prompted expert assistance from Australia to help with the situation.
Dr Malcolm Johnston-Leek, who’s deputy leader of the Australian team, said in an interview with Radio Australia, “Our main role is to assist the staff to bolster the numbers of staff here, to give the staff here relief. The doctors and nurses have been working extraordinarily long hours and hard many days in a row and they’re frankly all very tired, so we’re actually here to assist them to give them some relief and respite.
“As well, there’s a, we’ve got an environmental health person with us and they’re working with the Honiara City Council, looking at all the controlling the vectors that the Health Department here is having a very close eye on controlling the mosquitoes.”
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[…] a follow up to a story ten days ago, the dengue fever outbreak that has plagued the Oceanic country is showing no sign of slowing, […]