a day ago
Tonga confirms dengue outbreak over, three deaths recorded
Photo:
Tonga Ministry of Health
Tonga's Ministry of Health has declared the end of its dengue fever outbreak.
The ministry said there have been no new cases in the last two weeks, with the last case reported on 4 August.
During the outbreak, which was declared on 19 February, 907 cases were recorded and three people died.
The majority of cases were from Tongatapu (521), followed by Vava'u (312), then 'Eua (70) and Ha'apai (4).
Minister of Health Dr 'Ana 'Akau'ola said he is thankful to the people of Tonga for the collaborative efforts in mitigating and ending the outbreak, as well as international and development partners for assistance.
Fiji last week declared the end of the dengue fever outbreak in its Western and Central Divisions.
In a statement on 12 August, the country's Ministry of Health and Medical Services said the number of cases had significantly decreased since June, and "the current numbers are now in line for what is typical for this time of year".
A total of 11,599 cases were reported throughout Fiji from 1 January to 27 July.
The ministry said dengue fever is still endemic in Fiji and people are advised to remain vigilant.
The disease
continues to strike in other parts of the Pacific
.
Samoa's Ministry of Health said this week more than 9000 cases of dengue fever have been clinically diagnosed in the country since January.
As of 17 August, 9571 clinically diagnosed cases have been confirmed, of which 3070 are laboratory-confirmed.
Six people have died
.
An update from the Cook Islands Ministry of Health on Monday said 93 cases had been recorded in Rarotonga since February.
The UN's OCHA ReliefWeb service reported as of 18 August, Nauru's Ministry of Health had confirmed 379 dengue cases out of the 1,158 tests conducted. A 15-year-old and a seven-year-old
have also died there
.
