Maui students enlisted in effort to prevent dengue fever
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
HA'IKU, Maui — Maui's dengue fever outbreak may be history, but health officials are continuing to study the mosquito-borne disease to develop a strategy to prevent or contain future epidemics.
Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser
The state Department of Health has enlisted 100 students at 11 intermediate and high schools in Maui County for a yearlong survey of the mosquito population.
Seabury Hall students, from left, Sasha Rafael, Sam Ulin and Claire Gagne record the number mosquito eggs. Eleven schools in Maui County are taking part in a yearlong survey of the mosquito population on Maui, which suffered a dengue fever outbreak last year.
"This mosquito survey will help us to clearly identify problem areas and will provide us with the information necessary to plan proper dengue management strategies," said Maui District Health Officer Lorrin Pang.
The Health Department reports 119 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Hawai'i from June 10 through April 5. Eighty-nine of those occurred on Maui, 26 on O'ahu and four on Kaua'i. It has been 12 weeks since the last confirmed case, Pang said.
Students from Kalama Intermediate and Seabury Hall began the survey in April, and other schools will be joining in months to come. Yesterday, students from the two Makawao schools demonstrated how they are conducting their research.
Hay and water are mixed together and allowed to sit for a few days before the solution is filtered and poured into jars kept in the students' yards. A special paper is placed in the jars to collect mosquito eggs. After three days, the paper is removed and dried, allowing any eggs to become visible. The tiny black specks are smaller than a grain of sand.
Students will repeat the process twice a month for a year, providing valuable information on mosquito populations and seasonal trends throughout Maui County.
"People are under the impression that science has to be real complex. But this is really simple," said Claire Gagne, 18, a senior at Seabury Hall.
"It just takes commitment," added Kalama eighth-grader Daniel Jachowski, 13.
"This project is providing our students with a unique opportunity to learn science in a fun and interactive way, while providing the Department of Health with valuable and useful information in their efforts to control dengue," said Kalama science teacher Barbara Hawes.
Pang said vigilant mosquito control is the only effective weapon against dengue fever.
Cleanup crews are continuing to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on Maui and haul away bulky items in Hana and Ha'iku, worst hit by the recent outbreak.
Educational materials are being distributed to visitors at roadside businesses on the way to Hana and '?ao Valley, Pang said.
