Sixteen found positive in dengue fever tests
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By Yasmin Anwar
Advertiser Staff Writer
Sixteen people in Hawai'i have now tested positive for dengue fever in preliminary screening, with potential victims on O'ahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island.
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However, the state Health Department reported seven more suspected dengue cases that tested positive in rapid field tests that detect antibodies to the virus spread by Aedes vector mosquitoes.
Health officials say the rapid field tests sometimes yield false positives, but are generally reliable at detecting antibodies to the virus, and are taken very seriously. Of the three new cases that tested positive in preliminary screening on O'ahu, two are in Honolulu and one is in Kane'ohe. Kaua'i also reported three more preliminary positive cases — one in Kapa'a, one in Lihu'e and one in Princeville. And the Big Island has a potential case in Hilo.
About 200 cases of dengue fever are under investigation by health officials. Most are suspected cases that have not been confirmed by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here's a breakdown so far: Statewide: 40 Maui (total: 39) Kaua'i (total: 1) Statewide: 16 Maui (total:5) O'ahu (total: 5) Kaua'i (total: 5) Big Island (total: 1) Statewide: 187 (This number includes anyone who complains of two dengue-like symptoms, in addition to fever.) * Under investigation
Dr. Paul Effler, chief of the state's epidemiology division, said in some of those cases, people have visited Maui, and may have contracted the virus there. Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases around the state has risen to 187. There are seven CDC officers in Hawai'i helping the state's anti-dengue effort. Moreover, the state Health Department has received a shipment of test kits from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and hopes to begin setting up a local dengue laboratory in Pearl City.
Dengue update
Confirmed cases
Hana area: 34
Ha'iku: 3
Pukalani: 1
Lahaina: 1
Kalaheo: 1
Cases tested positive
(In preliminary screening)
Hana: 1
Kihei: 2
Wailuku: 2
Ka'a'awa: 1
Honolulu: 3
Kane'ohe: 1
Anahola: 1
Hanalei: 1
Kapa'a: 1
Lihu'e: 1
Princeville: 1
Hilo: 1
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Suspected cases*
Until Hawai'i has the ability to administer Federal Drug Administration-approved tests, blood samples must be sent to the CDC's dengue fever laboratory in Puerto Rico for final confirmation of the disease, which can take up to two weeks.
In Hawai'i, dengue is believed to be spread by the Aedes albopictus, a small, striped, day-biting vector commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito. Victims typically suffer high fever, headaches, muscle pains and rashes, among other symptoms. Severe cases can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which has a 5 percent fatality rate. Hawai'i has no reports of severe dengue-related illnesses so far.
The best way to prevent dengue is to eradicate mosquito breeding places such as small pools of stagnant water. In response, county refuse workers have been hauling trash that could act as a potential mosquito breeding place.
Honolulu city information officer Doug Woo said the county's Customer Services Department has been flooded with 300 to 400 calls a day. Many are from people wanting to remove garbage that could attract mosquitoes. County refuse crews cannot keep up with the demand.
