Categorized | Dengue Fever, Health

Confirmed Dengue Fever cases rises to 88, info meeting in Spanish tonight (Nov 20)


1:30 p.m. Hawaii County Civil Defense audio update message on the Dengue Fever outbreak

The State Department of Health continues to work with other state and county agencies on the issue of the Dengue Fever outbreak. As of 10 a.m. today (Nov 20) the Department of Health has reported 88 confirmed cases originating on Hawaii Island. These cases include 75 residents and 13 visitors.

Dengue fever is a virus that is transmitted or spread by infected mosquitoes and not directly from person to person. Dengue Fever is not endemic or common to Hawaii. It was likely introduced by a person who contracted the virus in another area of the world and became infectious while in Hawaii.

Because dengue fever is only transmitted by mosquitoes, the Department of Health is spraying and treating areas with high mosquito presence and confirmed cases. The Department of Health may be conducting spraying at various locations in the Kona, Hilo, Puna and Kau areas today. In addition, the Department of Health with support from the County of Hawaii and the Department of Education will be conducting preventive spraying or treating of areas around the following school campuses this weekend:

  • Konawaena High, Middle and Elementary Schools
  • Honaunau School
  • Hookena School
  • Hilo High School
  • Hilo Intermediate School
  • Waiakea Intermediate and Elementary Schools

Again, these school campuses are being treated as a preventative measure and based on proximity to confirmed cases in the area. There are no cases directly related to any of the school facilities or campuses. In addition, the spraying activities will be conducted around planned and scheduled activities at the campuses and no programs or activities at the schools have been cancelled.

Although spraying and treatment of areas is ongoing, the most effective method to reduce the spread and possible elimination of Dengue is to minimize or prevent the possibility of being bitten by an infected mosquito by wearing clothing that minimizes exposed skin, using mosquito repellant and avoiding activities in areas of high mosquito concentration during the early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest.

In addition, persons feeling ill and having a fever should remain indoors to prevent the possibility of being bitten and infecting mosquitoes.

Confirmed Dengue Fever Cases as of November 20, 2015
Hawaii Island Residents75
Visitors13
Confirmed cases, TOTAL88

Of the confirmed cases, 75 are Hawaii residents and 13 are visitors.
67 cases have been adults; 21 have been children (less than 18 years of age). Onset of illness has ranged between 9/11/15 – 11/15/15.

As of today, a total of 131 reported potential cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria.

HDOH continues to routinely monitor for cases of imported dengue infection on ALL islands and will continue to have Vector Control perform mosquito site assessments and abatement as needed. Since the beginning of our current investigation on Hawaii island, one imported dengue fever case has been confirmed (on Oahu). This case is not associated with the Hawaii island investigation.

Aloha,
My name is Angela Dean, I am the president of Comunidad Latina de Hawaii a non-profit organization here in Kailua-Kona.

With the recent outbreak of Dengue fever here on the Big Island, we want to reach out to our farm owners and agricultural workers in order to provide information in both Spanish and English so that we may communicate preventative measures that benefit the health of everyone in our communities.

Comunidad Latina de Hawaii along with the Department of Health will be holding a meeting this Friday November 20, 2015 at Konawaena High School cafeteria from 6-7 p.m.

We will have bilingual staff (Spanish and English) from both organizations who will be able to communicate the information effectively in both language.

We are seeing an increase in confirmed cases of dengue with in our farm worker community, and find it imperative that we reach out to you and this communit! y so that together as a community we may effectively get rid of or decrease exposure to dengue.

We want to ask that you please communicate this to your Spanish and English speaking employees or workers, so that as a community we may effectively get rid of dengue.
Please help spread the word.

Thank you,
Angela Dean
President
Comunidad Latina de Hawaii

20151120-Spanish-Dengue-Fever-Meeting-Flyer

Dengue Fever outbreak map by Hawaii County Civil Defense Friday, November 20, 2015.

Dengue Fever outbreak map by Hawaii County Civil Defense Friday, November 20, 2015.

Map released Wednesday (Nov 18) by the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Map released Wednesday (Nov 18) by the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Call Aloha United Way 2-1-1 for general information about dengue fever and the current Big Island dengue investigation.

To report a suspect case, contact:

On the Big Island: 808-974-6001 (East Hawaii) or 808-322-4880 (West Hawaii)
On other islands: DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division at 808-586-4586.

To report mosquito concerns, contact:

On the Big Island: 808-974-6001 (East Hawaii) or 808-322-4880 (West Hawaii)
On Oahu: 808-586-8021, on Maui: 808-873-3560, on Kauai: 808-241-3306
If you are ill and are worried that you might have dengue fever, contact your healthcare provider.

Clinicians: for updates go to http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/updates-and-resources-for-clinicians/

Schematic depiction of the symptoms of dengue fever

Schematic depiction of the symptoms of dengue fever

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