In less than three months, more than 400 people have been struck by dengue fever in New Caledonia.
15 to 20 people every day are contracting the disease since the epidemic began in February.
130 people have been affected on the island of Lifou with the Isle of Pines also badly hit.
Local authorities are organising health campaigns in schools and villages advising people to protect themselves against mosquitoes which carry the disease.
They are also being urged to destroy larval sites.
Our correspondent in Noumea, Claudine Wery, says the recent wet weather has exacerbated the situation.
"It's raining a lot in New Caledonia since several weeks and because of this very wet weather, the development of mosquitoes is very fast so that's why it's difficult to erase the epidemic."
Claudine Wery
