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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, January 8, 2002

Two more dengue fever cases reported in Hana

Advertiser Staff

The Department of Health has confirmed two more cases of dengue fever in Hana, bringing the statewide total to 97.

Both patients had the mosquito-borne disease in late November. There are now 62 people in Hana confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Health Director Bruce Anderson said he hopes the outbreak is largely under control.

"Although we can't say it's over, the problem seems to be limited to the Hana area and even there we're only seeing a few cases," he said.

Anderson urged residents to remain vigilant and to keep removing standing water around their homes. The recent wet weather is cause for concern, he said, because the mosquitoes apparently have increased. The more mosquitoes there are, the quicker the virus can spread.

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.

There are 72 cases overall on Maui, 21 on O'ahu and four on Kaua'i.