Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Officials say tuberculosis cases are down
Hawai'i experts report a decrease last year in the number of cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis, from 22 in 2002 to 11 in 2003, but are keeping an eye on certain cases of the disease.
Dr. Jessie Wing, chief of the state Health Department's TB Control Program, said she is keeping watch on a small increase in the number of cases resistant to multiple drugs, from just one in 2002 to four last year.
All 11 people in the cases reported last year were born outside the United States, she said.
"This increase has significant impact on the program due to the expensive medications and clinical needs of these challenging cases," Wing said.
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs. People can contract it when an infected person coughs or sneezes, Wing said.
Last year, Hawai'i reported 117 cases of TB, with the entire nation reporting 14,871 cases or a rate of 5.1 per 100,000.
Today is World TB Day, dedicated to raising awareness about the disease.
Kalihi escapee back in custody
A 32-year-old man was captured yesterday, almost three weeks after he failed to return to the Laumaka work furlough program.
Francis Kekona left the facility in Kalihi early March 3 and was declared an escapee. He had been convicted of second-degree robbery and kidnapping and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
Police captured Kekona in 'Aiea yesterday afternoon. Details of his apprehension were not available.
Free seminar to discuss wills
The state Judiciary will sponsor a free public seminar called "Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning" from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Supreme Court building, 417 S. King St.
The forum is part of the "Lunch 'n' Learn The Law" series of informational seminars for the general public.
The session will be led by Patricia Lee, co-author of the "Hawai'i Wills & Trusts Sourcebook."
For more information, call the Judiciary's public affairs office at 539-4909.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Crews recover body of student
HONOKA'A, Hawai'i — Firefighters have recovered the body of a 24-year-old man who was swept out to sea Saturday at Waipi'o Bay.
Bad weather had postponed a search by helicopter for Min-Koo Kang of South Korea earlier in the day, but a caller reported at 4:30 p.m. Monday that a body had washed ashore. The area was inaccessible by vehicle because of a landslide, so Hawai'i County Fire Department crews used the helicopter to retrieve the body Monday night.
Kang was a student at the University of the Nations in West Hawai'i.
Fire officials said he was crossing a shallow area of rocks where Waipi'o Stream empties into the ocean when a strong current pulled him into a steep drop-off.
