Leptospirosis

Fiji reports over 300 cases of Leptospirosis

In the Western Division, 162 positive cases were recorded.

There have also been 110 cases in the Central Division, 67 in the North, and 8 cases in the Eastern Division.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong said the increasing hospitalizations and deaths caused by Leptospirosis in the Western Division are of great concern.

Dr Fong added there have been 108 leptospirosis admissions in the West this year.

Fijian authorities urge public to boil drinking water

Fiji Medical Association President, Doctor Basharat Munshi said the bacteria that cause leptospirosis is spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into sources of water or soil.

Doctor Munshi added that people relying on boreholes, wells, and creeks for water are most at risk of being infected with leptospirosis.

“If you don’t boil this water- the magic thing about boiling water it kills bacteria and pathogens. So if you drink non-boiled water from these sources which are potentially contaminated with the bacteria then you will get the disease.”

Fiji records 5 new Leptospirosis-related deaths

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong said there have been four deaths in the West from Bukuya, Tavua, and Rakiraki and one in the Northern Division from Macuata.

He said this brings to a total of 19 deaths nationally due to leptospirosis, with 16 deaths in the West, one in the Central Division, and two in the North this year.

Dr. Fong added that Fiji now has an outbreak of leptospirosis in the West and the Central Division, an increasing trend of leptospirosis in the North, and dengue fever in the Western Division.

Fiji reports 213 dengue, 30 typhoid cases

The Government earlier announced that 14 people had died from leptospirosis this year including a six year old boy.

Health Secretary Dr James Fong also confirmed 179 cases of Leptospirosis this year.

Dr Fong said of the typhoid cases, 11 were from the Central Division, 14 in the west and five in the north of the country.

But he said case numbers of typhoid fever were below the expected numbers for this time of year.

Over 100 Leptospirosis-related death cases recorded in Fiji

The Ministry of Health said there are now 14 leptospirosis deaths, with 12 in the Western Division, one in the Central Division, and one in the Northern Division.

The ministry said the case numbers for leptospirosis are above the expected figure for this time of the year in the West and Central Division.

There are 65 cases in the Central division, three in the Eastern Division, 38 cases in the Northern Division, and 73 cases have been reported from the West.

Fiji records 11 Leptospirosis-related deaths

The Ministry of Health said 11 people died after contracting leptospirosis and the eldest fatality is that of a 56-year-old.

Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong said more people are being admitted to hospitals in the Western Division and the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Hospital for leptospirosis.

“Since January, there have been 74 confirmed cases, and the Ministry says there are many more who have been clinically diagnosed.”

“The three divisional hospitals in the Western Division have reported 28 admissions, with 19 in Lautoka Hospital alone.”

Fiji deals with thousands of cases of LTDD

Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said there were 1,747 dengue fever cases with five deaths.

He said there had also been 99 cases of typhoid with one death.

The minister said his ministry was positioning itself to combat the spread of such disease.

Waqainabete said natural disasters increased the intensity of the diseases and also highlighted that there were 3,019 cases of diarrhoeal disease.

 

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Leptospirosis concerns in French Polynesia

RNZ reports after the torrential downpour in Tahiti last month, 14 people were diagnosed with the disease of whom ten needed hospital care.

The infection rate has almost doubled and prompted the authorities to be circumspect when swimming in areas with big run-off.

The public has also been advised to try to control rodents as they can spread the disease, which triggers fever and pains and can damage kidneys.