State urges vigilance WAILUKU >> The dengue fever epidemic appears to be over in Hawaii, as the center of the infection on Maui has been declared free of the virus-carrying mosquitoes.
as dengue likely pau
Officials have not yet officially
declared that Hawaii is dengue-freeBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comDr. Lorrin Pang, the state health administrator on Maui, said yesterday the epidemic on the Valley Isle is likely over, with the latest onset of the disease on Feb. 9 in Haiku.
Pang said a mosquito's life is about 60 days, and the last confirmed case occurred about 90 days ago.
State health officials were taking a cautious position and have not officially declared Hawaii dengue-free. However, health officials plan to hold a press conference as early as today to discuss a long-term dengue management policy to reduce the chances of another epidemic in Hawaii.
Since June, confirmed cases of dengue fever have totaled 119, including 26 on Oahu, four on Kauai and 89 on Maui.
Pang warned that while dengue no longer appears to be spreading on Maui, residents still face the possibility of another outbreak from visitors who have been to countries where the fever is prevalent.
He said part of the strategy for preventing a recurrence is to educate visitors so they are aware that if they have symptoms related to dengue and have been in a foreign place where the fever occurs, they should see a physician and call state health officials.
"We will help them," he said.
Pang said dengue fever is more active during summer months, and people need to be vigilant about taking measures to reduce the number of mosquitoes near their homes and businesses.
He said the state plans to continue operating the nine information centers about dengue fever and offering free mosquito repellent to visitors and residents.
The virus is passed on from a contaminated mosquito to a human being and cannot be spread directly from one human to another.
Symptoms of the virus include a sudden high fever, headache, sore bones and a rash. There were no fatalities from dengue in Hawaii.
Health officials note Hawaii is on the fringe of dengue fever outbreaks in other countries, including the Philippines, Thailand and French Polynesia.
While the dengue outbreak in Hawaii began in June, news of the epidemic came out in late September and slammed Maui's visitor industry, which was already reeling from a post-Sept. 11 tourism slump.
In December the state sent out temporary workers on the four major islands to search for and clear out debris that would allow dengue fever-bearing mosquitoes to breed.
The work force was created to help alleviate post-Sept. 11 unemployment, and supporters of the program said it was key in slowing the spread of dengue.
State of Hawaii
