SUVA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Health declared on Tuesday an outbreak of dengue fever in Nadi and Ba in the Western Division where 312 confirmed cases were recorded since the beginning of this year.

According to a statement by the ministry on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases has continued to rise above expected levels for the Western Division at this time of the year. The ministry is also closely monitoring an increase in cases from other subdivisions in the west.

The ministry is especially concerned with the high number of confirmed dengue patients requiring admission and the majority of admissions have been in Nadi and Ba, with each receiving approximately 10 per week.

A total of 862 confirmed dengue cases have been recorded in the South Pacific Island state from the period of Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, giving an incidence rate of 48.5 per 100,000 population.

Central division has recorded 41 confirmed dengue cases and Northern has recorded 509 confirmed dengue cases and Western division has recorded 312 confirmed dengue cases.

The ministry urged Fijians to see doctors if they have dengue fever.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services clean-up campaigns were launched with their municipal partners from November 2017. During that time they strongly urged people to continue conducting weekly clean-ups and removal of water carrying containers from homes, yards, and workplaces. The elimination of mosquito breeding places needs to become a routine activity for all of them.

"We urge the people of Fiji to take heed of this advice to prevent yourselves and your loved ones from getting dengue fever," the ministry said.

Last year, Fiji reported more than 3,000 dengue fever cases.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms, which typically begin three to 14 days after infection, may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.