The Asian tiger mosquito is one of the vectors responsible for transmitting dengue fever. Photo: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
The number of cases of dengue fever in Tonga continues to rise, the island's health ministry says.
The Tongan government declared a dengue fever outbreak last month.
In its latest update on Monday, the ministry said the total number of cases now sits at 339.
The majority of the cases are from Vava'u (190), followed by Tongatapu (110), and 'Eua (39).
The health ministry said those affected are mostly in the 10-19-year-old category, with the youngest being a four-month-old-baby.
Authorities are prioritising testing for those who present with moderate or severe symptoms only.
People with mild symptoms are being advised to stay home.
The health ministry is requesting the public to clean up and destroy mosquito breeding sites around the home and schools, wear appropriate clothing to minimise mosquito bites, and use mosquito nets and repellants
So far, no dengue-related deaths have been reported.
![A dengue outbreak was declared in Tonga on 19 February. Google translate of caption: While visiting areas confirmed to be infected with the Mofi Tengi virus, outside staff of the Ministry of Health or Health Inspectors are visiting houses to reduce the number of mosquitoes. easily injured by this fokoutua.
During the shooting, [spraying] schools that have already had students infected with Mofi Tengi and schools that are vulnerable to Mofi Tengi.](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--1byM0o3u--/c_crop,h_552,w_883,x_0,y_245/c_scale,h_552,w_883/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1740609429/4KBBYI5_Tonga_spray_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
