Disease

Dengue Fever in Fiji

The Fiji Ministry of Health has recorded 143 dengue fever cases since the beginning of the year, according to a Fiji Times report. Health officials note that Western Division has reported the most at 88, followed by Northern Division (30) and the Central/Eastern Division (25). Health officials are urging the public to take immediate actions to destroy dengue mosquito breeding places.

Dengue infects nearly 400 million people across more than 120 countries each year. Most survive with few or no symptoms, but more than two million annually develop what can be a dangerous dengue hemorrhagic fever, which kills more than 25,000 people each year.

Swine fever outbreak hits western Tanzania

The African swine fever (ASF) has broken out in the western Tanzania’s district of Kalambo District, killing nearly 200 pigs, an official said Sunday.

Julieth Binyura, Kalambo District Commissioner, confirmed the outbreak of the deadly disease, saying villagers had been informed on the viral disease.

The disease, which has a high mortality rate in pigs, has caused panic in the area where pig farming has been a booming business.

Binyura said her office had banned pork business as well as transportation of live pigs in the district to contain the disease in the area, which is part of Rukwa Region bordering Zambia and Lake Tanganyika on its western side.