Fiji recorded three deaths from 300 dengue fever cases recorded between November last year to date, says Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete.
Dr Waqainabete said of these deaths, one was recorded towards the end of last year while two were recorded this year.
“That number is much less now than what it used to be before, when comparing some of the major dengue fever outbreaks in the 2000s which were sitting at about 30,000 cases even two years ago,” he said.
“For the past seven years or so the ministry has been targeting dengue fever, focusing on working with stakeholders and community through awareness campaigns.
“With dengue fever, leptospirosis and typhoid being what we call climate sensitive diseases, we cannot change our co-ordinates, we are Fiji and located in the 180th meridian.
“Scientists have been predicting more adverse weather conditions in the future and this is bound to affect us.”
Dr Waqainabete said they were pushing out awareness in the rural, urban and peri-urban areas.
“Significant parts of our population reside in the urban and peri-urban areas and this is where we are also focusing our outreach works.”
