Leptospirosis

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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Director Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Len Tarivonda said as of 1 February, a total of 33 confirmed cases have been reported to the National Surveillance Unit since TC Harold hit the country in April 2020.

There were 30 cases and two deaths reported in Sanma Province.

Shefa Province reported three cases.

According to a statement by issued by Tarivonda, there are no suspected or confirmed cases from other islands or provinces.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial diseases that affects humans and animals.

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.