By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Vanuatu Director of Public Health reports 18 confirmed, locally transmitted dengue fever cases have been reported since April 15 by Vila Central
Hospital.

Aedes aegypti
Image/CDC

Cases are sporadically distributed within port Vila and its peri-urban areas including; Erakor Area, Freshwota, Pango, Nambatu Area, Namburu, Bladinear, Beverly Hills, Tebakor and Havannah Area.

The following public health response is in place:

Awareness programs within communities focusing on:
o Dengue signs and symptoms and need to seek health care
o Preventive measures: personal protection from mosquito bites and removal of breeding sites around households.
• Indoor residual spraying around recent cases
• Larviciding around cases/clusters
• Distribution of leaflets with general information at National convention Centre and in areas surrounding cases and areas surrounding index cases