Fiji records 34 Zika cases

Fiji has recorded 34 Zika cases from January to August 3 this year, Health Minister Jone Usamate said on Thursday.

Aside from Zika, 623 dengue fever, 41 chikungunya, 225 typhoid as well as 430 leptospirosis cases were recorded during the same period in the Pacific island country, according to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

"I urge you all to keep your surroundings clean and free of any such containers or receptacles. The recent 'Fight the Bite, Clean up Fiji' campaign helped reduce the number of mosquito-borne diseases. With a proactive approach, we can continue to keep these numbers low," Xinhua news agency quoted Usamate as saying.

The minister also urged the public to refrain from swimming or wading in flooded waters to avoid waterborne illnesses.

Zika presents a risk for pregnant women and their unborn babies as the causal relationship between microcephaly and other severe brain defects had been confirmed by scientists.

--IANS

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