Dengue

Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said there were 1,747 dengue fever cases with five deaths.

He said there had also been 99 cases of typhoid with one death.

The minister said his ministry was positioning itself to combat the spread of such disease.

Waqainabete said natural disasters increased the intensity of the diseases and also highlighted that there were 3,019 cases of diarrhoeal disease.

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The Department of Health and Medical Services identified the dengue virus as Dengue Serotype 2 (DENV2) and about one third of those were confirmed to have contracted DENV2.

A government statement said about 70 of this number was reported from people from the refugee community.

The government said the outbreak was not regarded as severe in the vast majority of cases.

The dengue continued through the end of April before tapering off, which is a normal outcome with the continuation of spraying and fogging programs.

More than 150 people on the island of Hawaii have so far contracted the mosquito borne virus and more cases are expected.

Hawaii's disease outbreak control centre says it is still safe to travel to the Big Island.