Six die of dengue fever in Fiji this year

SUVA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Health Ministry in Fiji confirmed on Monday that six people have died of dengue fever in the South Pacific island country this year.

The health ministry said that the island country, which has an estimated population of 902,400 people, records more than 2,200 dengue cases in the first six months of this year.

The country's Health Minister Rosy Akbar described dengue fever as a threat to the country.

Dengue, which infects nearly 400 million people across more than 120 countries and regions each year, can cause high fever, severe headaches, severe pain behind the eyes, rash and joint, muscle or bone pain.