Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva reports having admitted 31 clinically-suspected cases of dengue fever since December 18, with 3 to 4 new cases admitted per day in the last week. An undetermined number of these cases have been suspected as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever [DHF]. There have been 3 deaths so far, suspected as due to DHF. All three died within three to five days of the onset of illness, and two days of admission, and all three were adults between 25 and 40 years of age. One death was due to intracranial hemorrhage, one to generalised profuse bleeding, and one still hasn't been ruled out as septicaemia. Overall, cases admitted so far have ranged in age from 14 to 55 years, with an average age of 28 years. Many less serious cases of unclassified viral illness suspected as dengue have been reported as being seen in the general outpatient and accident and emergency departments. There has been a distinct rise in overall numbers of patients seen in both departments. CWM Hospital is the major referral hospital in Fiji, serving the capital and surrounding areas with a population of roughly 250,000.

To date, none of the admitted cases have been confirmed serologically as dengue, and the dengue virus serotypes for these cases obviously are still unknown. Cases have been identified by low blood platelet counts, and platelet infusions have been given to patients to prevent haemorrhagic complications. The Consultant Physician in the medical wards reported highly variable results with platelet infusions - some patients with very high platelet counts were reported as bleeding, and others with very low platelet counts had no bleeding at all.

At least 11 admitted cases reside in Suva city, with the remainder admitted from suburban and rural areas around Suva. These cases were officially reported to the Ministry yesterday (Monday), though increased dengue cases had been seen since late November. Further, Lautoka Hospital on the opposite side of the main island reported seeing at least 7 suspected cases in November based on fevers combined with low platelet counts. None were serologically confirmed as dengue according to the Welcome Virus Lab in Suva. It is presumed that the samples from this recent outbreak report have been sent to the WHO Collaborating Centre in Brisbane, Australia for confirmation.

There have been 12 serologically confirmed cases since July, with 5 in November, and 1 reported in December. At least one of these samples was identified as dengue 2 virus. However, confirmatory testing has not been systematic throughout that time, with several of the dengue positives discovered through testing samples that had been sent to the national virus lab for influenza / respiratory virus studies. There may have been a far greater number of asymptomatic and clinically presenting cases in that time that went unreported and / or undiagnosed.

The public has been advised of the situation, and warned to take measures to avoid mosquito bites including destroying breeding sites, wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellents and insecticides. However, it is feared that the measures will be too little, too late, despite increased efforts by the Ministry in the past year to mobilise breeding source reduction campaigns, participation in a regional vector-borne disease project. [There is concern] that the outbreak will accelerate with more deaths and widespread morbidity in the coming weeks.

The party marked some important entries and exits for the club. Attending were John and Harietta Bennett, who have recently moved to Honolulu along with their three daughters, Leilani, Kimberly and Hannah. We welcome them as new members and look forward to their participation in our activities.

Yvonne Aitu

Also attending after her graduation that morning from Brigham Young University-Hawai'i was Yvonne Aitu, who left for Fiji the next evening. Yvonne, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, has accepted a teaching position at the Fiji Latter Day Saints Technical College. She will teach computer science to Forms 1 through 7 and will also do computer support work for the school. Just prior to graduation Yvonne was one of twenty-five students who received a Recognition Scholarship based on her academic performance. We will miss her ever-cheerful presence but are pleased that she will be able to help bring Fiji's students into the computer age.

Leaving on the same plane to Fiji were Maria and Paul Dumas and their daughter, Nicole. They are on their way to Rotuma to attend the höt'ak hafu of Maria's mother, who died last December.

All the members of the TEFUI Club wish Rotumans everywhere a kesmas lelei ma fau fo'ou 'oaf'ofa!

By Leba Harrison

POLYNESIAN tradition is entwined with dance in all aspects of the word, the fluid movements of the hands, feet and hips tell stories that astound those who watch.

A writer originally from Rotuma in Fiji is spreading the word of dance in the Pacific Islands, its cultural meaning and its importance to its people in their every day lives to the rest of the western world.

He is also attaining outstanding recognition for it.

This acclaimed writer and playwright is Dr Vilsoni Hereniko who now lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He is an associate professor at the centre for Pacific island studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Dr Hereniko recently won the prestigious Elliot Cades Award for Literature.

Two awards founded in 1986 by Charlotte and Russell Cades are presented each year by the Hawaii Literary Arts Council to writers of poetry, drama, fiction or literary nonfiction.

This year Dr Hereniko was the recipient of the "writer who has published a significant body of work of exceptional quality".

Dr Hereniko has written heaps of plays, academic books, children's books/stories, short stories, editorial work, articles and essays.

His plays include Fine Dancing which Dr Hereniko is currently rewriting for a screen play for a feature film.

Fine Dancing will be a millon dollar full length motion picture when it is completed.

The story is about Rani, a mother of two and her desire for a life away from her abusive husband and claustrophobic marriage.

After she makes her escape she meets up with Hina, the Moon goddess at a beach on Magic Island.

Hina helps Rani to heal through the magic of dance.

Her husband, who in the meantime has had an affair with Alexis, an exotic dancer and cross dresser, discovers Rani dancing with Hina one night out on his motorcycle and tries to make amends for his abusive and wayward ways.

With the Moon goddess' help, and a spectacular polynesian Moon dance, the three are able to see the dawn of a new era at the conclusion of the play.

The play was performed at a beach on Magic Island in Honolulu around sunset and also at Guam in Micronesia.

Rena Owen from the award winning film Once were Warriors portrayed Hina the Moon goddess.

Dr Hereniko said they were looking for a location to shoot the film and Fiji was being considered for this.

Dr Hereniko aged 43 lived on the island of Rotuma until the age of 16.

Ha than moved to Suva to attend Queen Victoria School. From there he went on to the University of the South Pacific as an undergraduate.

He returned to QVS to teach English and history before graduate studies carried him halfway around the world to England.

There, Dr Hereniko got his masters degree from the University of Newcastle in 1982.

He returned to the University of the South Pacific where he taught Pacific literature and began his career as a playwright.

He completed his doctorate in 1992 at USP although he left the previous year to join the faculty of the Center for Pacific Islands studies at the University of Hawaii.

Dr Hereniko began writing seriously as an undergraduate student at the University of the South Pacific in the mid 70s.

He was one of the students in Albert Wendt's first writing class at USP.

Although he has won many other awards, he said the Elliot Cades award surprised him.

"This award surprised me as I have been in Hawaii only six years and there are so many good writers here," he said.

"This is the first time the award has been won by a Pacific Islander.

"I feel the award is an indication that Pacific literature, literature written by indigenous Pacific Islanders, is now finally recognised here in Hawaii.

"When I arrived in 1991, Pacific literature meant writing by white Americans about the Pacific but that has now changed, and the works of indigenous writers such as Albert Wendt and Epeli Hau'ofa are now a feature of the literary scene in Hawaii," he said.

Dr Hereniko said one of his greatest sources of inspiration is Rotuma where he grew up with his 10 siblings.

"When I was growing up in Rotuma, my parents made a point of telling their children stories about the island, the so called myths and legends,

"Though they have now passed away I still feel they are my muse, my inspiration,

"Rotuman culture and my family have been the main sources for my stories, most of which are set in Fiji,

"Only my latest play is set in Hawaii," he said.

Dr Hereniko married for the second time in August this year to Jeannette Paulson the founding director of the Hawaii International Film festival

He has a 13 year old son who lives in England and visits him every year, as well as family who still live in Lautoka and Rotuma.