Radio Australia
Palau's Bureau of Public Health has declared a dengue epidemic
after 28 confirmed cases and 40 other suspected instances of the
tropical disease were reported in the last five and a half months.
The Director
of Public Health, Caleb Otto, says that based on that figure and
the sudden increase of cases in September and October prompted
the bureau to declare an epidemic.
The 28 confirmed
cases were reportedly detected in Koror and Airai.
Twelve boxes of intravenous fluids have been sent by the Northern
Marianas in an effort to assist the Palau government's fight against
the disease.
Despite insufficient
funds, the bureau has been closely monitoring the prevalence of
the disease in possible breeding areas of dengue-causing mosquitoes.
Health officials
have been sending blood samples to the World Health Organization
laboratory in Australia.
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