The Health Ministry has declared dengue fever outbreaks in Ovalau and in the Western Division where case numbers are significantly above expected levels for this time of the year.

Ovalau Dengue Outbreak

There have been 72 cases of dengue fever reported from the Levuka Hospital in Ovalau since January 1st this year, with a recent surge in cases reported in the preceding two weeks.

The majority of cases are in the 10-19 age group, and from several communities and villages in Ovalau. There have been no deaths to date.

The Lomaiviti Subdivision Outbreak Response Team (SORT) have upscaled their public health response with site specific and community wide awareness and information sessions.

Response activities already implemented by the Lomaiviti SORT included:

• Information sharing in the Bose ni Tikina meetings in Ovalau, and evening awareness

sessions conducted in several communities and villages.

• An awareness session and source reduction/clean-up activities at the St John’s College in Cawaci.

• Targeted anti-mosquito spraying in hot-spot and at-risk villages and communities.

• Case investigations, household inspections and applicable prosecution works.

• Surge capacity and readiness activated by the Levuka hospital facility and use of

recommended dengue fever clinical management guidelines for cases.