The Northern Division of Fiji, despite its smaller population, has been identified as having the highest incidence of typhoid in the country. This information was presented by microbiology scientist Orisi Cabenatabua at the Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Services (FIMLS) Annual Convention, where he discussed current typhoid trends and vaccination initiatives.
Mr. Cabenatabua noted that the prevalence of typhoid in the Northern Division surpasses the national average. He explained that while the absolute number of typhoid cases in the North is lower than in the Central and Western Divisions, this disparity can be attributed to its smaller population of approximately 100,000 residents, compared to around 600,000 in the Central Division.
Typhoid affects various demographics across the region, and Mr. Cabenatabua suggested several factors could contribute to the higher rates in the North, including limited access to sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as the impacts of climate change. He emphasized that cases tend to increase following cyclones due to the disruption of sanitation services during such events.
To address the prevalence of typhoid, the Ty-Five project has been implemented to strengthen the surveillance system, which will include both clinical monitoring of hospital patients and environmental testing to detect potential sources of contamination. Mr. Cabenatabua highlighted the importance of testing the environment for salmonella contamination, as it plays a crucial role in typhoid transmission.
He also reported on a recent 10-week vaccination campaign, stating that ongoing assessments show a significant decrease in cases, with the number of October cases this year being less than half of what was recorded in the previous year.