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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 23, 2001

Dengue fever source was local

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — State health officials now say that the four East Maui patients who have dengue fever contracted the illness on the island.

A public health educator on Maui earlier said the patients had contracted the illness, which is spread by mosquitoes, while traveling in Tahiti, where there is a dengue fever epidemic. Now it appears likely that the source of the Maui outbreak was an undetected case in a visitor or returning resident. Along with the confirmed cases are a couple dozen suspected cases that are awaiting test results.

Health officials say this is the first documented local transmission of dengue fever in Hawai'i in more than 50 years. Dengue fever is rare in Hawai'i, with only 17 cases in the past five years.

A community meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m. tomorrow in Hana to discuss the disease and how to prevent its spread.

Public health efforts are concentrating on containing the outbreak quickly with mosquito control efforts. State health director Bruce Anderson urged the community to assist the effort.

Residents are urged to control mosquitoes by covering or properly discarding items that collect rainwater or are used to store water, and emptying and cleaning animal watering containers at least once a week.

In addition, health officials are advising residents in the affected areas to use mosquito repellent, to make sure windows and doors have screens or use air-conditioning, and to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

There is no vaccine for dengue fever nor any treatment beyond bed rest and over-the-counter pain and fever medications. The illness lasts five to seven days.

Symptoms include sudden onset of fever; painful headaches; eye, joint and muscle aches; and a rash that begins on the arms and legs three to four days after the onset of fever.

Occasionally, individuals with dengue fever experience blood-clotting problems characterized by abnormal bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure.