Americans travelling to Fiji have been advised by the health authorities there to be up to date on all their routine shots.

The routine shots are for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (tdap) and varicella (chicken pox).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the advice on Twitter yesterday.

David James Paul, 38, an engineer with Lockheed Martin and his wife Jane Michelle Canalog Paul, 35, were staying at a hotel on Denarau Island in Nadi when they died in mysterious circumstances.

The CDC tweeted: “Depending on where you’re going in Fiji and what you’ll be doing, you may need a Hepatitis A vaccine and a typhoid vaccine.

“Make sure you schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss these and other concerns before you go.”

If you are traveling to Fiji, you should be up to date on all of your routine shots including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria- tetanus- pertussis (tdap), and varicella (chicken pox).

— CDC (@CDCgov) June 11, 2019

On its website, CDC recommended to American travellers to Fiji to get the Hepatitis A vaccine because they could get the sickness through contaminated food or water regardless of where they were eating or staying.

Depending on where you’re going in Fiji & what you’ll be doing, you may need a hepatitis A vaccine and a typhoid vaccine. Make sure you schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss these and other concerns before you go. Visit: https://t.co/GzXsY8tehQ. — CDC (@CDCgov) June 11, 2019

It also recommended the typhoid vaccine for most travellers to Fiji, especially if they were staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if they are an adventurous eater.

According to CDC, Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, and is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water.

The symptoms include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice that usually resolve within two months of infection.

The late David James Paul and his wife Jane Michelle Canalog Paul.

Meanwhile, investigations into the deaths of the American couple are still underway by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and the Fiji Police Force.

The post-mortem results revealed that the USA couple died as a result of an illness, but samples have been sent overseas for further tests.

It is still unknown what illness the couple had.

Five local people who came in contact with the couple also fell ill and were admitted in the Nadi Hospital for a few days. So far, only four people have been discharged.

The investigations are expected to take some time.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback:  avinesh.gopla@fijisun.com.fj