Disease

Zika Virus Outbreak in South Pacific

The tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga said Friday it has a Zika epidemic after five people tested positive for the virus and another 265 are suspected of having it.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in addition to Tonga, the Pacific islands of American Samoa and Samoa have also reported Zika outbreaks and it is warning Pacific travellers to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which spread the virus.

Newcastle Disease in the Philippines

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in Central Luzon in the Philippines has killed more than 40 000 chickens according to the Department of Agriculture.

It is suspected that the spread of the virus was enhanced by recent typhoons that have stressed the birds and weakened them.

The department had already implemented measures to prevent the further spread of the disease, including the distribution of vaccine and disinfectant particularly to backyard raisers.