Permanent Secretary for Health Dr. Lepani Waqatakirewa said the alert is generated to request health-care personnel to keep the vigilance in the country, set high index of suspicion in all clinical settings and also revamp environmental measures.
Waqatakirewa has asked all health-care professionals throughout Fiji to pinpoint high-risk areas where the sporadic cases have been located and take the necessary measures to contain them.
He has called on all medical officers to work with health inspectors in all instances for prompt action to prevent further spread through surveillance of vectors and also spraying of affected areas.
A major campaign has been called to fight the spread and the ministry will be closely watching all developments, said Waqatakirewa.
Dengue fever ranks highly world-wide as a “newly emerging infectious disease and Waqatakirewa said outbreaks are now in “more serious forms and results in greater fatalities, hospitalization, human sufferings and loss of man-hours.”
The last worst epidemic in Fiji was recorded in 1997-98, with 24,000 cases notified and 13 deaths, costing the Fiji government at least $4.3 million.
The health ministry has urged other government ministries, NGOs and the community at large to help fight this disease in all areas.
