Leptospirosis

The Ministry of Health said the death toll has increased to five so far this year.

Three people died in Santo, one fatal case is from Erromango and the other is from Efate.

The MOH said two deaths were clinically diagnosed and three were laboratory confirmed.

Two new cases from Santo and Malekula were reported recently.

A total of 40 cases have been reported in the country since January this year.

Four of the new cases are reported on Santo, one on Efate and the other on Pentecost.

Health Promotions Vanuatu said of the 26 cases, the majority are from Santo.

Four clinically diagnosed cases were reported from Vila Central Hospital (VCH) and one reported death in February was referred from Erromango.

These cases were reported after 212 leptospirosis rapid diagnostic tests were done at VCH and the Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH) with results showing 26 positives and 86 negatives so far.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

The National Surveillance Unit reported that five of the cases are in SANMA Province, one in SHEFA, one in TORBA and another one in TAFEA Province.

The cases were confirmed after 81 rapid diagnostic tests were done at the Northern District Hospital and the Vila Central Hospital.

NSU said that areas presented with more cases in Santo were Chapuis and Pump Station. Throughout Vanuatu, results show a higher incidence of cases in males than females.

Sixty eight of the total cases are from SANMA Province, three in SHEFA, two from both MALAMPA and PENAMA and one from TORBA.

Assessment has been done to confirm areas with possible exposure.

The Ministry of Health said community awareness session are being conducted in all provinces to sensitize population about the transmission of Leptospirosis and its protection measures.