14 Aug 2017

Over 2000 Dengue cases in Fiji in first half of 2017

9:02 pm on 14 August 2017

The ministry of health in Fiji says more than 2200 people have been infected with dengue fever in the country during the first six months of this year.

It said six people had died of the mosquito born disease in Fiji in 2017.

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Photo: 123RF

The health minister Rosy Akbar told the FBC the laboratory confirmed cases showed dengue remained a threat in Fiji.

Last week, the Australian government announced it would invest more than $US6 million in a pilot programme to combat mosquito-borne diseases in Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop said dengue fever affected about a million people a day around the world.

She said outbreaks in the Pacific were becoming more severe.