The Ministry of Health in Fiji has confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever in the Labasa Town area.
The Fiji times reports the outbreak was mainly in the Macuata subdivision with 279 registered cases of dengue between November the 20th and the 17th of December.
The ministry said Labasa Hospital has received 39 to 78 confirmed cases of dengue every week since the end of November.
The acting national adviser for communicable diseases Aalisha Sahukhan said the ministry had started spraying mosquito breeding areas.
Dr Sahukhan said it was not possible for the ministry to conduct weekly clean-ups of every household and workplace so the public is being urged to be vigilant in protecting themselves and their families during the outbreak.