23 Feb 2018

Dengue epidemic declared in New Caledonia

6:57 am on 23 February 2018

A dengue epidemic has been declared in New Caledonia.

The government said there was a significant rise in the number of infections this year.

It said about 100 cases of type 2 dengue have been diagnosed since the beginning of the year, suggesting that the people are to immune the virus.

The government said the disease had been found mainly in Noumea and Yate.

Last year's epidemic claimed 11 lives and officially affected 4,500 people.