Toafei Matahiva Telefoni, 12, died after contracting dengue fever while in Tonga. She is pictured with her grandmother Timipeli Telefoni. Photo / Supplied
Toafei Matahiva Telefoni, 12, died after contracting dengue fever while in Tonga. She is pictured with her grandmother Timipeli Telefoni. Photo / Supplied
An Auckland schoolgirl's death in Tonga has been linked to the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever, which has broken out in the island nation.
Toafei Matahiva Telefoni, 12, died from the disease at a Tongan hospital on January 24.
Local newspaper Matangi Tonga said she had been in the country visiting family members for the Christmas holidays when she fell ill.
Tonga has since declared a dengue fever outbreak. Last week, the confirmed number of cases had reached 19.
The youngster's body was brought back to Auckland, where her funeral was held late last week.
Relative Kinga Langi told the Herald family members in Tonga sought medical treatment for Toafei three times after she complained of feeling hot.
"All we [were] thinking about is it's just the flu. But she was always complaining she is feeling hot, her body temperature is high. That is why we took her to the hospital.
"They did not diagnose her, thinking it is just [the] flu. She began vomiting and for the fourth time, they admitted her ... but it was too late.''
Auckland schoolgirl Toafei Telefoni, 12, was visiting family in Tonga when she died from dengue fever. Photo / Supplied
Langi said the family acknowledged that conditions and facilities at the hospital on the island were not the same as those in New Zealand, for instance.
As a result, they urged anyone travelling to Tonga to be aware of that and take necessary precautions.
"We just want to say that people should [be] aware. Do all their shots before going to Tonga.''
Toafei's death follows warnings to Kiwis travelling to the Pacific and particularly Samoa, where more than 2000 cases of dengue fever have been reported since October.
Nationwide, up to 165 cases of dengue fever were notified in New Zealand last year. In 2016, 191 people caught the disease.
Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever for two to seven days, intense headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rash.
The Ministry of Health has issued warnings via the SafeTravel website.
It is advising anyone visiting Pacific countries as well as Thailand, Malaysia and parts of Australia, to take precautionary measures such as using insect repellents, mosquito nets when sleeping, or wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
No one has died in New Zealand but Samoan authorities are continuing to release preventative messages to those in the country, after a number of deaths related to dengue fever in Samoa the past few months.
Among the victims are former New Zealand man Fiaali'i Mariner who died just weeks after he and his wife and their children arrived to start a new life in Samoa.
Langi described his niece as a very religious young lady who accompanied her grandmother Timipeli Telefoni to all kinds of church activities.
"We will still and will be forever hurt - she's the only daughter of our only sister. We're trying to do everything we can to comfort them.
