News

Ministry finalises leptospirosis action plan

August 25, 2015 6:56 pm

An average of 420 laboratory confirmed leptospirosis cases and 42 deaths have been reported each year from 2012 to 2014.

Due to its high morbidity and mortality rate, compared to other communicable diseases the Health Ministry will be formulating a Leptospirosis Action Plan 2016-2020.

Health practitioners are meeting at Novotel in Suva to formulate the plan for Leptospirosis as a priority communicable disease for the Ministry.

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The meeting is aimed to strengthen the efforts to reduce the burden of Leptospirosis in Fiji.

Deputy Secretary Public Health, Dr Eric Rafaai said the meeting would also review the findings of existing research programs and identify outputs that can be used to develop interventions and review ongoing and proposed research activities.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects humans and animals.

It is caused by the genus Leptospira.

Some symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rash.