15 May 2018

Dengue spreads to Futuna

11:46 am on 15 May 2018
The Saint Peter Chanel Basilica on the island of Futuna, in the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna.

The Saint Peter Chanel Basilica on the island of Futuna, in the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna. The island has had its first confirmed dengue cases of the year. Photo: AFP

Two people on the French Pacific island of Futuna have been taken to hospital and put into isolation after they were diagnosed with dengue.

The public broadcaster says the two are suspected to have been infected after a visit from one of their relatives from neighbouring Wallis where a dengue epidemic was declared in November.

The disease is spread by mosquitoes.

The authorities have sprayed the area of where he two individuals lived.

While dengue has spread on Wallis in recent weeks, the two infections on Futuna are the island's first this year.