With dengue still popping up, awareness ads return
| • | Advertiser special: Dengue fever: Health crisis in the making |
By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Health Writer
The state Health Department is preparing a new round of public service announcements encouraging people to continue mosquito-control measures as the number of dengue fever cases hit 106.
Four new cases have been added to the tally. Two are in Hana, Maui, which has been hardest hit by the outbreak — the area now has 67 incidents.
One new case was diagnosed in Kula, which health officials say stemmed from Hana. There also is a new case in Kane'ohe in an area where the virus already had been detected.
The patient in Kane'ohe contracted the disease in early January, indicating the disease continues to linger on O'ahu despite Health Department hopes that it had been eradicated for the time being. However, officials are still optimistic.
"We still feel that cases are in decline; things seem to be under control," said Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo. "Of course, we are concerned because the onsets are in January, so we're still emphasizing that people need to exercise mosquito control, especially with this rain that we've been having."
A new series of television public service announcements will remind people to check around their homes and remove standing water, which is where mosquitoes breed. Experts say the best way to control dengue is to lower the mosquito population.
There have been 78 cases on Maui, 24 on O'ahu and four on Kaua'i.
The dengue virus is spread by the bite of the Aedes mosquito, which is active during the day. The virus cannot be passed from person to person.
While dengue can sometimes be fatal, this outbreak is of a less serious strain. Victims typically suffer high fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, rash and pain behind the eyes.
