Three people including an 8-year-old boy from Navua died from leptospirosis within a week, bringing the death toll to 23 as confirmed cases countrywide surpassed 500.
The other fatalities include a 63-year-old man from Nadi and a 20-year-old from Taveuni.
Permanent Secretary Health Dr James Fong said while there have had cases in all age groups, most are in the 10-39 age group, with more males than females and iTaukei’s.
Overall, the majority of the cases including hospitalisation and deaths have been recorded in the West.
Of the 567 cases, the West accounted for 236 cases, 154 of them required hospitalisation and 18 died.
In the Central Division, there have been 193 cases of which 86 were hospitalised and two died. Forty-two percent of cases in the division were reported from Suva, 22 percent in Rewa, 13 percent from Serua/Namosi, 9 percent from Tailevu, 8 percent from Nasinu, and 6 percent from Naitasiri.
In the Northern Division, there have been 122 cases, 26 of which were hospitalised and three died. Of the total cases in the North, 95 percent were recorded in Macuata, two percent in Cakaudrove, and one percent in Taveuni.
In the Eastern division, of the 16 cases reported in Levuka and Kadavu, five were hospitalised – four in Levuka and one in Kadavu.
