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| Situation Update No. 2 Ref.no.: EH-20100222-25036-FJI
Situation Update No. 2
On 2010-03-06 at 04:15:01 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Location: Fiji Statewide Number of Infected: 112 person(s)
Situation: Typhoid cases have risen by 13 this week taking the national total of confirmed cases by the Ministry of Health to 112. Ministry spokesman Iliesa Tora said this was an increase from the 99 recorded up to March 1. He said almost 60 of the initial cases had already recovered with no deaths recorded so far. "As of today, there were 25 cases recorded in the North, 42 in the West and 45 for the Central-Eastern division including three cases from Taveuni," Mr Tora said yesterday. "At the same time last year and this year, there were 21 confirmed cases for the Western Division and 22 cases each for the Northern, Central and Eastern divisions. "Typhoid fever is not a new disease to Fiji and clusters of the disease are generally identified from isolated areas where a combination of environmental factors such as poor sanitation, inadequate water supply, unsafe food handling practices added to poor personal hygiene are conditions." Mr Tora said at least 90 per cent of those typhoid cases were detected at and admitted to the divisional hospitals because of the severity of the illness. He said the severity of illness because of typhoid was generally associated with the delay in seeking treatment. "If anyone has a high fever and has flu-like symptoms that extend beyond three to four days without any sign of recovery, they should seek consultation at the nearest health facility as soon as possible," Mr Tora said. "If anyone is confirmed to have typhoid fever, they should remain under medical treatment until such time when they are cleared by their treating physician. "All close contacts, especially nuclear family members that share meals and bathroom facilities, should make themselves available to public health authorities to undergo screening of the disease." Mr Tora said typhoid was a treatable infectious disease and complications could be avoided if medical advice was sought early. |  | | | |
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