Parents and guardians have been advised to prevent children from playing in the mud or swimming in flooded rivers or creeks. And they must ensure children wear shoes when outside.

This warning from the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr James Fong, follows the death of a 15-year-old boy from Leptospirosis.

Dr Fong said the boy, from Tailevu, was presented at the Nausori Health Centre on April 6 and died same day.

“There have been a total of 36 deaths from leptospirosis this year, with 26 in the Western Division, four in Central, and six in the North,” Dr Fong said.

“There have been 1784 lab-confirmed cases of leptospirosis this year, with 67 new cases to report since the last update a week ago; a downward trend in cases with case numbers now below the outbreak threshold nationally.

“In the Western Division, there have been 741 lab-confirmed cases, with 29 new cases since the last update.

“In the Central Division, there have been 625 cases, with 19 new cases since the last update.

“In the Northern Division, there have been 364 cases, with 16 new cases since the last update.

“In the Eastern Division, there have been 54 cases, with three new cases reported since the last update.”

He said case numbers in the Western Division were declining, but remained above the outbreak alert threshold, indicating more cases than the expected number for this time of the year for this endemic disease.

“The leptospirosis bacteria are spread to humans through the urine of infected animals, such as cows, pigs, rats, and dogs,” Dr Fong said.

“To reduce your individual risk, it is important to understand that exposure to animals, soil, mud, and floodwaters during work or recreational activities increase your risk of infection.”

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