Fiji is on alert for Mpox after an outbreak was declared following an increase in cases on the African continent this year.

This was the assurance from the Ministry of Health’s Head of Health Protection, Dr. Alisha Sahu-Khan, in an interview with the media yesterday.

She says the government is monitoring the outbreak of Mpox worldwide, particularly the nucleus in Africa, and is able to confirm and contain any suspected cases in Fiji.

“Fortunately we are able to test for Mpox in Fiji at Fiji CDC so if we were to have a suspected case we would be able to test in-country.”

Dr. Alisha says the Fiji Center for Disease Control’s communicable diseases committee is on watch, as they have prepared a plan to monitor and manage any cases of Mpox.

She says the government is also on alert for other infectious diseases, including the various variants of COVID-19 that are on outbreak in neighboring countries.

Dr. Alisha says there is a system for surveillance within the government, wherein they observe the trends of infectious diseases across the country.

“So we’re able to tell if we have a high level of respiratory infections or low level and it can also be seasonal because we have influenza of course and that can be seasonal but that’s what we monitor.”

Dr. Alisha also urges Fijians to adhere to advisories as we enter the cyclone season, as a lot of rain can trigger the spread of other infectious diseases such as leptospirosis, typhoid, and dengue.