18 Feb 2012

Fiji disease risk may curb kava ceremonies

8:10 am on 18 February 2012

Fiji's Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki says plans are afoot to ban mass gatherings and the consumption of kava to stop the possible spread of diseases in flood-hit areas.

He told the Fiji Times that the move to suspend traditional ceremonies comes after a woman died of dengue.

The authorities are concerned about public health after registering cases of typhoid, leptospirosis and dengue.