Typhoid cases exceed outbreak threshold in the West

The Health Ministry says the number of typhoid fever cases have exceeded the outbreak threshold in the Western Division where there have been 50 cases so far this year.

There have been 83 confirmed cases of typhoid fever in Fiji this year, with 7 new cases last week.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says there is also a slight upward trend in cases noted in the Northern Division last week, driven by a localised outbreak in Cakaudrove.

He says there have been 13 cases in the North this year, with 3 new cases since Friday.

Doctor Fong adds typhoid cases in the Central and Eastern Divisions are below the average or at the average numbers expected for this time of the year.

There have been 5 deaths from typhoid fever so far this year.