Health Dept. Hosts Hana Meeting on Dengue Tonight

By Wendy Osher

Aedes Albopictus mosquito, image courtesy CDC.

State and county authorities host a community meeting tonight in Hana to discuss dengue fever. The Hana meeting is the third East Maui meeting held this week following reports of two unconfirmed cases of dengue fever in Keanae.

Although the cases are still pending confirmation, efforts are being taken to clear standing water and debris where mosquitoes could breed.

The Hana meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Helene Hall and includes information on proactive steps to prevent transmission.  A separate meeting is also planned in Haiku on Monday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Haiku Community Center.

So far there are only four confirmed cases of locally-transmitted dengue fever in the state—all were adults living in Pearl City on Oahu. Over two weeks, the Department of health received 42 reports suspected cases, 13 of which have been ruled out.

Hawaii experienced an outbreak of dengue fever 10 years ago in 2001, with the largest concentration of cases reported in East Maui. The outbreak was brought under control within eight months following an extensive mosquito control effort.