4 deaths and 3,437 confirmed dengue fever cases recorded from Jan 1st - May 31st this year

Four deaths and 3,437 confirmed dengue fever cases have been recorded from January 1st to May 31st this year.

The Health Ministry states that of the total confirmed dengue cases recorded, 1,242 were from the Northern Division, 1,315 from the Western Division, 865 from Central Division and 15 cases of dengue were recorded for the Eastern Division.

The Ministry says there has been a decrease in the number of dengue fever cases recorded nationally in the last 6 weeks and that the number of cases in all divisions is now at levels that is expected during this time of the year.

The Ministry of Health stresses that even though we are now in dengue low season, anyone in Fiji can still get dengue fever, as it is an endemic disease.

The symptoms of dengue fever, which typically begin 5 to 7 days after being infected by a dengue virus carrying mosquito, include the sudden onset of high fever with a severe headache, pain behind the eyes/eye socket, joint pains, muscle pains, tiredness, nausea, vomiting or skin rash.

The symptoms can last 3 to 7 days before you start to feel better.