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Three people have died and scores have become ill in outbreaks of typhoid and leptospirosis in Fiji.
Acting director of Public Health in Fiji, Dr Josaia Samuela, said one person had died and 77 people had been confirmed with typhoid since the beginning of the year, most in
recent weeks.
There has also been reports of two deaths and 22 confirmed cases of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease.
Samuela said no tourists had been reported ill with typhoid or leptospirosis, and the outbreaks appeared confined to rural areas where visitors were unlikely to go.
Samuela said a 32-year-old school teacher had died over the Easter weekend and several students had come down with typhoid, probably after a carrier contaminated food at a feast.
"There was probably a gathering, a feast, where food and water is shared. It was all of a sudden, when a group of people fell ill," Samuela said.
He said leptospirosis was normally transferred to people from dogs and rodents.
"They pass this material through their urine into the environment. It is commonly found in muddy pools of water," he said.
He said up to 4000 people lived in villages at risk of typhoid or leptospirosis outbreaks.
Australia yesterday expanded its warnings about travel to post-coup Fiji to cover outbreaks of typhoid and mumps.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says its overall message remains: "Exercise a high degree of caution when travelling in Fiji due to the volatile political and security situation" following the military coup of December 5.
"The security situation remains uncertain, and reactions to the coup could lead to violent clashes."
But the advisory now also adds: "An outbreak of typhoid has been reported in Fiji, affecting the areas around Natewa Bay and Buca Bay on Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu".
"An outbreak of mumps has been reported in Fiji affecting a number of areas in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu (the two main islands of Fiji), and possibly other neighbouring islands," it says.
Samuela said it was possible Cyclone Cliff, which tore through Vanua Levu on April 4 and affected water supplies, had worsened the situation.
He said carriers of typhoid were people who had completely recovered from the illness, but could spread infection for the rest of their lives if their urine or faeces contaminated food.
But he expressed surprise the Australian government had warned against an outbreak of mumps.
Samuela said people in Fiji were not vaccinated against mumps because of the cost of the inoculations, but there had been no jump in reported cases.
Symptoms of typhoid varied but were often confused with influenza and could include a very high fever, headache, loss of appetite, weakness or a cough, he said.
Symptoms of leptospirosis can include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or a rash.
- AAP
