Fiji has recorded 1,780 new influenza-like illness cases in the first week of September, a 75 percent increase from the previous week, with the Ministry of Health urging the public to take extra health precautions as flu cases surge across the country.
The Ministry says the latest respiratory health report covering January to September 2026 shows a rapid increase in influenza-like illness cases.
They say the Central Division recorded the highest number of cases, with 975 patients seeking care in one week, followed by the Northern Division with 398 cases and the Western Division with 362 cases.
Children under five are the most affected age group, accounting for 30 percent of all influenza-like illness cases nationwide.
They say laboratory testing from January to September confirmed Influenza A (H1pdm09) as the main virus identified during the current surge.
FluTracking, an online public health tracker, also recorded an increase in people reporting both a cough and fever, rising from 10.2 percent to 16.4 percent in one week.
The Ministry says influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly among babies and young children, people over 60, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions.
They say common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, cough, sore throat, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and extreme tiredness.
The Ministry is advising people to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, stay home when sick and wear a mask if they are unwell and need to go out.
People are urged to seek emergency medical care if they experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe vomiting, confusion or severe drowsiness.
