27 Dec 2018

Dengue epidemic declared in New Caledonia

6:58 pm on 27 December 2018

New Caledonia has declared an epidemic of dengue fever.

Anse Vata beach in Noumea

The hot and humid weather New Caledonia's experienced lately has been blamed for the latest outbreak of dengue fever there. Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel

More than 100 people have contracted the mosquito-borne disease since the beginning of November.

Most infections have been recorded in the Noumea area, where about 20 people a week are getting infected.

The spread of the disease is attributed to the hot and humid weather.

As a result, people are being asked to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to use repellents.

The last such epidemic in New Caledonia was declared in February.