Fiji has a total of 43 confirmed cases of Zika virus carriers in tests carried out by the Ministry of Health from February to October this year.

This was highlighted by Ministry of Health official Dr Daniel Faktaufon yesterday in his presentation during the Zika Awareness Seminar facilitated by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with HOTEC and Moffet Saloon Culinaire at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi.

“In February this year we first had our positive case of Zika virus, during the month of February of the 18 tests that were done there was on only one locally positive case,” Dr Faktaufon said.

“This positive case was a locally transmitted case, following February as the months proceeded, the number of Zika positive cases slowly began to increase.”

He said the last quarter from August to October the cases were on the decline.

“In a total 1140 cases of the tests that were done, 43 of these cases were picked up from February until October,” Dr Faktaufon said.

“Zika testing was initially conducted abroad but after the establishment of Zika test equipment at Mataika House, it was now being conducted in Fiji.”

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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