A rare but serious infection which killed three children in the Solomon Islands over the festive season has been identified as meningococcal meningitis.
Local health authorities confirmed this to online news service, Solomon Fresh-Beat, following returned test results from blood samples sent to Australia on Wednesday afternoon.
A doctor at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Gregory Jilini said similar cases had occurred in Makira in 2014 and Malaita in 2016.
Dr Jilini wanted to reassure the public that the disease was not new to Solomon Islands and that it was treatable.
Apart from the three deaths no further cases have been reported so far.
However the Ministry of Health says it will continue to monitor the situation.
It is advising people to wash their hands regularly, avoid crowded living and sleeping conditions and avoid exposing young children to smoke.
People are also advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience fever, are vomiting or develop a severe skin rash.
