In the past six months, Tonga, New Caledonia and Kiribati have reported outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease.
Samoa and American Samoa are currently experiencing outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever.
WHO representative in the South Pacific, Dr. Chen Ken, said while dengue fever is usually not present in Fiji, there have been major outbreaks in the past, the last significant one being in 1998.
With Fiji’s position at the center of regional travel, Ken said the multiple outbreaks in the region meant the country was at serious risk.
“Dengue is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito and when a person with dengue arrives in another country, local mosquitoes that bite him or her can transmit the illness to others,” Ken said. “Several travelers from Samoa have been diagnosed with dengue after arriving in New Zealand.”
Ken said they received indication from the Health Ministry that a task force is monitoring the potentially fatal illness and ensure preventative measures are taken to reduce the chances of an outbreak.
He said the measures include issuing new guidelines to clinicians and providing mosquito control at airports.
Ken is advising people to be alert for symptoms and seek medical treatment if they come down with fever.
Common symptoms are similar to flu and include a sudden onset of fever, severe headache, muscle and body pains, nausea, vomiting and skin rash.
