Dengue fever outbreak on Nauru threatens health system

Nauru and Australian immigration officials have called a crisis meeting as a major dengue fever outbreak threatens to overwhelm the Pacific island nation’s public health system.

Guardian Australia understands there are now at least 70 known cases of dengue on Nauru, including at least 10 asylum seekers and refugees held on the island by Australia.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can become life-threatening in acute cases.

Guardian Australia understands a meeting will be held on Saturday between officials of the Australian Border Force and the Nauruan government, Nauru hospital staff, and staff from International Health and Medical Services (IHMS).

Officials from the World Health Organisation are also on the island assisting the Nauruan government, which is struggling to cope with the increasing number of cases. The Nauruan hospital has limited supplies and infrastructure to manage the surge in cases.

The Australian government has already medivaced one asylum seeker suffering from an acute case of dengue to Pindara hospital in the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

The Nauruan hospital was unprepared for the outbreak, and Guardian Australia understands it has no testing kits for the disease.

The only testing kits on the island are held by IHMS, which is contracted by Australia to provide healthcare services to asylum seekers at the Nauru detention centre.