Lab confirms first case of dengue fever on O'ahu

By Yasmin Anwar
Advertiser Staff Writer

A case of the mosquito-borne dengue disease has been confirmed on O'ahu, home to more than 70 percent of the state's population.

•	For more information on today's anti-dengue activities on O'ahu, call 523-2489.
•	For more information on dengue fever and how to prevent it, visit the Department of Health Web site at www.hawaii.gov/doh/dengue

Of eight new dengue cases, one is in Kane'ohe. That victim, whose identity is being kept confidential, has no recent travel history and cannot be directly linked to the outbreak in East Maui or the epidemics in Tahiti and other parts of the South Pacific.

"Clearly having a case here with no travel history suggests that individual was infected by a mosquito carrying the virus here on O'ahu," said state Health Director Bruce Anderson.

	Dengue fever update More than 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:
•	Confirmed cases Statewide: 48 Maui (total: 45) Hana area: 39 Ha'iku: 3 Kihei:1 Pukalani: 1 Lahaina: 1 O'ahu (total:1) Kane'ohe Kaua'i (total: 2) Anahola:1 Kalaheo: 1
•	Cases tested positive (In preliminary screening) Statewide: 20 Maui (total:6) Hana: 2 Kihei: 1 Pa'ia: 1 Wailuku: 2 O'ahu (total: 8) 'Ewa Beach:1 Ka'a'awa: 1 Honolulu: 5 Waipahu: 1 Kaua'i (total: 5) Hanalei: 1 Kapa'a: 2 Lihu'e: 1 Princeville: 1 Big Island (total: 1) Hilo: 1
•	Suspected cases* Statewide: 222 (This number includes anyone who complains of two dengue-like symptoms, in addition to fever.) * Under investigation

"It's very possible that these isolated cases are just that," Anderson said. "And ... do not suggest that there is a virus established in the community, but rather that certain individuals are being exposed to mosquitoes that happened to bite people who have traveled from other parts of the Pacific where dengue is a significant problem."

Nonetheless, he said, "It's not time to be complacent about the issue at all. We need to be very aggressive in addressing the problem by eliminating mosquito breeding areas."

Second case on Kaua'i

New results from the CDC yesterday also confirmed a second case on Kaua'i. The victim, who is from Anahola, is believed to have come in contact with surfers who visited Tahiti, where the disease is epidemic.

Health officials yesterday also reported six more confirmed cases on Maui, bringing the total number of cases on that island to 45.

And a total of 20 people have tested positive for antibodies to the dengue virus in preliminary screening. New cases that have tested positive in rapid field tests are in 'Ewa Beach, Honolulu and Waipahu.

Around the state there are 222 suspected cases under investigation, but health officials expect many of them will not turn out to be dengue fever.

In Hawai'i, the dengue virus is believed to be carried by the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. The vector has stripes and usually bites during the day.

Victims usually suffer high fever, rash, muscle aches, headaches and eye pain. Severe cases of the disease can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Mosquito control stressed

The best way to eradicate the vector and the larvae is to remove potential breeding places such as small containers that collect standing water.

More than 600 areas around the state have been sprayed with insecticides. Meanwhile, refuse crews are collecting trash that could act as a potential mosquito breeding site.

There are seven CDC officers in Hawai'i assisting with the state's anti-dengue effort.

Honolulu officials have scheduled an islandwide cleanup today, with volunteers asked to report to district parks at 8 a.m.

In response to the outbreak, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific next week will start regularly emptying vases with water and flowers to "disrupt the life cycle of the mosquito."

The cemetery says it "regrets having to dispose of floral tributes, but the safety and welfare of the cemetery visitors is of greater importance."