Tonga’s Ministry of Health has issued an alert about typhoid fever in the kingdom but did not say whether or not any cases of typhoid were diagnosed.
According to a report by Radio FM87.5 this afternoon a restriction on social activities and movements of locals has been declared at the town of Vaini so that medical officers could be able to medically sort out the infectious disease in the community.
The students of Beulah College boarding school, situated at Vaini, have been sent home to their families amid fears of an outbreak, the radio reported.
The principal of the school Mele Vaihola was reported as saying students were sent home as they thought that might be safer for them.
Dr Seini Kupu, a Senior Medical Officer at Vaiola Hospital, was reported by the radio as saying the ministry was facing a big challenge when there was typhoid outbreak.
Typhoid fever is an infection that causes diarrhea and a rash. It is most commonly due to a type of bacterium called Salmonella typhi. Typhi is spread through contaminated food, drink, or water.
