Villagers in the interior of Namosi have been advised to limit movement between villages and avoid unnecessary gatherings due to reports of typhoid cases in the area.
Fiji’s Ministry of Health has identified 11 cases across five villages, with the initial outbreak stemming from a mass gathering on April 26 in Wainiyavu village. Seven cases were reported in Wainiyavu, and one each in Burotu, Wainimakutu, Wailoaloa, and Nabukavesi.
According to the ministry, the transmission of typhoid in these villages is linked to the use of contaminated river water for daily household activities as their water dam is currently being serviced by the Water Authority of Fiji.
The Namosi medical team has since dispatched a group to investigate the disease, screen the community, and collect water and stool samples.
If you or someone you know experiences the following signs and symptoms of typhoid, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention:
- Fever ranging from low to high
- Headache and body pain
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Dry cough
- Excessive sweating
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Itching or rashes
If left untreated for an extended period, these signs and symptoms can lead to complications such as intestinal bleeding, hemorrhage, encephalitis, delirium, endocarditis, respiratory diseases like pneumonia and bronchitis, kidney or bladder infections, inflammation of heart muscles, and pneumonia.
Photo: File
