The Ministry of Health is urging Fijians to take extra precautions against respiratory infections, particularly during the school holidays and ongoing festivals across the country.

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa says people should practise good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands to help prevent the spread of infection.

He is also urging parents to closely monitor their children and ensure they are kept warm during the current weather conditions.

The advisory comes as 5,921 cases of Acute Respiratory Illness were recorded across Fiji in Epi-Week 32, ending 9 August.

While this is an 8 percent decrease from the previous week, 17 percent of the reported cases were among children under five, with the Central Division recording the highest number of cases.

Ravunawa says health facilities continue to see large numbers of patients presenting with symptoms including shortness of breath, high fever, coughing and sneezing.

He says the combination of extreme heat, cold weather, rain and cold winds may be contributing to the current respiratory illness situation.

With large gatherings expected during the school holidays and festivals, Ravunawa says there is a risk of infections increasing if people do not take preventative measures.

He says prevention is important as health facilities are already facing pressure and are limited by available resources.

The Ministry is advising people to use hand sanitiser where possible, keep unwell children at home, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.