BRITAIN has warned its nationals against drinking piped water on their travels here.
The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth office travel advisory comes in the wake of typhoid outbreaks after Cyclone Gene struck Fiji on January 29.
British authorities have warned that some water supplies have been contaminated, and all water should be boiled before consumption.
It advised its nationals they should seek medical advice before travelling here and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations were up to date.
The advisory warns of the possibility of typhoid, leptospirosis and dengue fever, for which there is no vaccine.
The Foreign Office said Britons should take precautions with food and drink. Fiji Visitors Bureau chairman Patrick Wong said the travel advisory was a precautionary measure.
He said the travel advisory would not have that much of an impact because most travellers now drank bottled water.
Similar sentiments were echoed by interim Tourism Minister Tom Ricketts.
Interim Health Minister Jiko Luveni said there were a few reported cases of typhoid during the week but they had been attended to by medical officials in Ra.
Director health program and training Doctor Tima Tuiketei said typhoid was associated with natural disasters when safe water, sanitation and good hygiene practices were compromised. She said typhoid fever was caused by a unique human strain of Salmonella called Salmonella typhi.
Dr Tuiketei said people with typhoid carried the bacteria in their blood and intestines.
She said the infection could be spread directly to other people via contaminated food and water.
She said typhoid germs were passed in the faeces and, to some extent, the urine of infected people.
It is spread by eating or drinking water or foods contaminated by infected individuals.
"Typhoid is avoidable and because of the nature of its transmission, we must always make sure to be aware and take precautionary measures," Dr Tuiketei said.
"A great effort must be exerted by everyone in the community to ensure they have continuous safe water supply, proper toilets and good hygiene practices and food preparations practices."
She said there were hot spots, with identified positive carriers of the disease in Fiji but ensured the ministry would be monitoring those at all times.
Five people were hospitalised in Ra last week with typhoid.