A 14-YEAR-OLD from Bagata, Savusavu, was the youngest person to die from leptospirosis at Labasa Hospital.
The child was among the 16 deaths recorded in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit over a 12-month period.
The figures were highlighted by Miss Labasa Divisional Hospital Isabella Raidriwa, one of seven contestants vying for the Vodafone Miss Friendly North title.
She said the hospital’s laboratory department recorded nine cases of typhoid fever, 640 cases of dengue fever and 226 cases of influenza-like viral infections during the reporting period.
“The ICU recorded 16 deaths between March 2025 and March 2026, with the youngest being a 14-year-old who died from leptospirosis,” she said.
“There’s a need of practising good hygiene, including covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and washing hands before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet.”
She also encouraged young farmers to wear protective gear, including gloves and gumboots, when working with livestock or on farms.
“If you are experiencing these flu-like symptoms, please boost your immunity by eating healthy food and staying hydrated.”
She said communities also needed to work together in protecting their environment by clearing possible mosquito breeding sites.
