The Health Minister has confirmed 1894 cases of suspected dengue fever were recorded in the first four months of this year alone.

Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete revealed this while launching a clean-up campaign at Waidamudamu settlement in Nakasi yesterday.

He says that out of this, 199 dengue cases were confirmed in the Rewa subdivision while five people from Waidamudamu settlement were confirmed to have dengue.

“Our health facilities and staff over the past four months have been experiencing a rise in dengue cases. We will continue to work effectively with all communities to minimize the risk of anyone getting dengue and it’s for that reason we need to engage everyone but it has to be a whole of a nation approach with men, women and children cleaning up our surroundings. Getting rid of receptacles containing stagnant water.”

Dr Waqainabete is reiterating there’s no specific cure to dengue fever so breaking the life cycle of a mosquito is very important.

The Minister adds there’s an urgent need to ensure clean-up campaigns to be sustainable in communities.