Dengue fever outbreak: NZ to send medical staff to Solomon Islands

Dengue fever is spread when a Aedes mosquito transmits the virus from one person to another. Photo / Thinkstock

New Zealand will send medical staff to the Solomon Islands following an outbreak of dengue fever.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the outbreak had placed strain on the nation's health system, depleting resources and overwhelming staff.

New Zealand will send a doctor and a nurse for two weeks as part of an Australian-led medical team.

"There are almost 1700 suspected cases of dengue fever - 1200 of those in Honiara - and three reported deaths," said Mr McCully.

Dengue fever is a serious viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.