A major clean-up operation involving health authorities, the National Disaster Management Office and the Red Cross is taking place in Tonga to address the dengue outbreak.
A Tongan Red Cross officer leads a mosquito cleanup operation to combat dengue fever. Photo: Tonga Red Cross
There have been 43 confirmed cases since the start of the year with hundreds more suspected.
A collaborative effort is now being made to minimise mosquito breeding areas, by clearing rubbish, old vehicles and places where water may gather.
The Red Cross is also preparing to distribute mosquito nets to the public.
The General Secretary Sione Taumoefolau says the organisation has built up a large stash of emergency supplies.
"This year we have about 100% coverage of the whole kingdom. We have here mosquito nets if there is any need to be distributed we can do it. If we can do our cleaning faster then the mosquito nets won't need much distribution. We have the stock around Tonga. We have about 4 to 5 thousand mosquito nets ready to be used."
