FIFTY-TWO to 90 adults died of pneumonia last year, most of whom arrived at hospitals or health centres too late.

Doctor Adam Jenney of the Fiji Immunisation Program at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital said 260 adults were admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital suffering from pneumonia in 2004 and 2005.

This was revealed at a symposium to discuss the direction of research in Fiji with regard to vaccination.

He said the mortality rate among adults with pneumonia was 15 to 26 per cent, with men the highest at 70 per cent.

Health ministry chief executive Doctor Lepani Waqatakirewa most of the deaths were the result of people reporting late to a health centre or hospital.

"The deaths are a result of patients who come late during the last course of their disease and they last only a day or two,"Dr Waqatakirewa said.

"As soon as a person suffers from the cough and fever they should go to the health centre or hospital,"he said.

"If you suffer from severe cough after three or four days later even after taking anti-biotics,"Dr Waqatakirewa said.

"Or if there is coughing associated with chest pain associated it should be a sign that something is wrong.

"When you have a viral infection it does not mean that you cannot get a bacterial infection,"he said.

Dr Waqatakirewa said Fijians had a higher incidence case than Indians.

"I don't know what the reason is but may be it's because Indians visit the hospital earlier,"he said.

"We found that in cases that are admitted at the mortality rate is high," he said

It was also reported that Fijian children were more susceptible to pneumonia that Indian children.

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