5 Aug 2004

American Samoa health dept issues dengue advisory

12:32 pm on 5 August 2004

American Samoa's Department of Public Health has issued a dengue fever health advisory for the delegation returning from the Pacific Arts Festival in Palau.

Public Health in Pago Pago says people that were in Palau "may have been bitten by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus".

The advisory warned that these people may have the virus in their blood and could develop symptoms within 1-2 weeks.

It said an outbreak could start in the Territory if mosquitoes in American Samoa pick up the virus from biting someone with dengue.

The department recommends that those returning from Palau take precautions, such as applying mosquito repellent for 2 weeks to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible.