Fijians living in the rural areas are advised to practice safe hygiene following reports of Typhoid fever in the Northern Division.

The Health Ministry is warning the public that with more rain expected this cyclone season, there’s an increased risk of Typhoid fever that can spread to other areas.

Acting National Advisor Communicable Diseases, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan says most cases received were a result of mass gatherings including those conducted during the festive season.

“There’s no outbreak of typhoid fever but we’re experiencing cases in certain villages that are related to each other so what happens is especially over the festive period we have events, mass gatherings, people come together for Christmas and then they go back to their own settlements and they come down with typhoid fever but it’s all related to those particular villages.”

In the first week of this month, five confirmed cases were received from Natua village in Savusavu which has been promptly attended to.

Health Minister Rosy Akbar says this should not only concern residents in the North but those in other parts of the country including the maritime zones.

Akbar says the Northern Division outbreak response team is working promptly to address the typhoid cases in the northern division.

She adds the Ministry will continue to closely monitor the typhoid cases and is committed to providing the necessary treatment and support required.