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Fiji’s Ministry of Health is urging people not to rely on the ministry and take responsibility of their own health, as a typhoid fever outbreak continues to spread.
Health Ministry spokesman Iliesa Tora said the total confirmed number of typhoid fever cases stands at 112 as of yesterday compared to 99 a week ago.
Tora said people should learn to take basic precautions like boiling all drinking water, washing their hands and seeking medical advice for flu-like symptoms going beyond three to four days.
“It is important people seek consultation at the nearest health facility as soon as possible and if confirmed with typhoid fever, they should remain under medical treatment,” he said.
Tora confirmed that almost 80 people reported to have suffered from typhoid have recovered with no serious cases and no fatalities.
He said lateness in seeking treatment was causing the severity of the sickness.
Ninety percent of the reported cases were admitted to hospitals.
Most of the cases are in rural areas and in squatter settlements in the Suva area such as Jittu Estate and Wailea Settlement.
The Ministry of Health said earlier that initial investigations showed that water had been contaminated at source giving rise to the outbreak.
