18 Jul 2003

Dengue outbreak in Tonga brought under control by big community effort

3:33 pm on 18 July 2003

The acting chief medical officer of public health in Tonga, credits the community and cooperation from government departments for the remission of a recent dengue outbreak.

Dr Seini Kupu, says the May to June outbreak claimed five lives and over a hundred people needed hospital treatment.

However Dr Kupu says there have been no new cases in the last two weeks.

She says the collaboration between the various departments was outstanding, and it was heartening to see the community work together.

"There was a very active widespread community involvement in cleaning up possible breeding places for the mosquitoes and actually taking on the advice - we had been going on air - I think they were the most important turning factors."

Dr Kupu says she is also grateful for the monetary support received from the World Health Organisation.