Health authorities in Fiji have gone on alert after an outbreak of typhoid fever.
The Fiji Times says 23 cases of typhoid have been confirmed in the Central, Eastern and Northern divisions of the country, including four in Suva, but no deaths have been reported.
A senior health ministry spokesperson, Dr Timaima Tuiketei, has warned that the number of cases could increase if households do not exercise strict cleanliness and safe practices in the preparation of food and drinking water.
She says no one has died because the disease was diagnosed quickly and appropriate treatment prescribed.
Dr Tuiketei says teams have been mobilised for field investigations, case diagnosis and outbreak responses.
Typhoid is caused by a bacteria known as Salmonella Typhus.
Its symptoms are high fever, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and coughing.
