"The dengue fever epidemic is continuing into its fifth month throughout Fiji, with 24,780 suspected cases and 1,708 hospitalisations reported from Ministry of Health facilities since it began in late December. Three percent of the population has been affected to date. While the epidemic seems to have slowed down considerably in the past month, the virus continues to be transmitted at a high rate in some areas. The most recent death due to dengue occurred on 11 April on Kabara Island in the Lau Island group, bringing the total to 13 since the first death was reported on December 25th, 1997.
Transmission in the Western Division appears to have slowed greatly thanks to well organised control efforts. However, dengue cases continue to be reported and there have been 42 hospital admissions in the last three weeks for dengue haemorrhagic fever.
The Central Division reports a rise in cases from Naitasiri, a rural province outside of Suva, and the Eastern Division has noted rises in cases from Vanua Balavu, Kabara and some other islands. Notably, Kadavu island has reported very few cases in recent weeks.
In the Northern Division, Labasa Hospital has reported 40 admissions in the last three weeks, many with at least 34 infections confirmed by laboratory tests. Unfortunately, other areas in the Northern Division have not submitted reports during that time period, making the exact picture unclear in areas of Vanua Levu outside of Labasa and Taveuni.
Table 1. Patients presenting at Ministry of Health Facilities
with clinically suspected Dengue Fever since 22 December 1997, as of 6
May 1998, including hospital admissions, attack rates (per 1000 population),
trends in weekly case loads, and total percentage of cases by Medical Subdivision.
| Facility | Outpat | Admiss | Pop. | Attack rate* | Percent ofcases |
| Eastern Viti Levu | 16,863 | 556 | 297,255 | 58.6 | 70.3% |
| Western Viti Levu | 3,027 | 489 | 322,341 | 10.9 | 14.2% |
| Vanua Levu/Taveuni** | 1,644 | 389 | 153,805 | 13.2 | 8.2% |
| Outer Islands | 1,538 | 274 | 48,746 | 37.2 | 7.3% |
| Fiji Total | 23,072 | 1,708 | 822,147 | 30.1 | |
| Total cases | 24,780 |
* per 1,000 persons ** Only Labasa Hospital reported --David Saunders <saunders_d@ITC.GOV.FJ> VIA ProMED-mail <promed@usa.healthnet.org>