Typhoid outbreak in Fiji

Published: 9:51PM Thursday March 04, 2010 Source: AAP

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The rapid spread of typhoid fever in Fiji is alarming, according to travel medicine experts.

There are 99 people now infected with the disease - 55 contracted typhoid fever over the past week.

Australian travel doctor, Deborah Mills said this is "a lot more than the average".

"(Travel doctors are) watching it with great interest," she said from her Brisbane clinic.

"Fiji's had a bit of a problem with typhoid in the past because it's poor and disorganised and so it's a place where typhoid can break out."

The disease is mainly transmitted through poor sanitation of food and water, Dr Mills said.

She encouraged travellers to get vaccinated, drink bottled water and only eat food that is too hot to touch.

The main symptoms of typhoid are diarrhoea and a fever, but if left untreated can cause a burst bowel.

The Fijian minister of health suspects contaminated food and water is the source of the outbreak.

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