Medical authorities in Fiji's north have been placed on a health alert after an outbreak of typhoid fever.
Hospitals in Vanua Levu are reported to be treating an average of five typhoid cases a day.
The director of northern health services, Dr Ami Chandra, says at least 115 confirmed cases have been treated so far this year with numbers increasing sharply in the last few weeks.
Dr Chandra says an 87-thousand US dollar awareness campaign to educate people has been launched in the northern division.
He is urging people to practise better hygiene and seek early treatment because typhoid can be fatal.