Number of dengue cases up to 117

In a statement on its website, the Hawaii Department of Health said it is “investigating a cluster of locally-acquired cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island (the Big Island)”.

The World Health Organization said the method to control or prevent the transmission of the virus is to combat mosquitoes – which, according to DOH, breed in small amounts of water collected in storages like tanks, cisterns, flower vases, and plant axils. The majority of the patients have been adults, and the most recent onset of illness was recorded on November 24.

Dengue is not endemic in Hawaii but at times is brought in along with infected travelers, which according to state health officials is the way through which the outbreak has started. As of Tuesday, the Hawaii Department of Health is reporting a total of 117 confirmed cases of dengue fever, 14 of which were detected in visitors to the Big Island and 103 of which were found in Hawaiian residents. The Southern Taiwan has reported all the deaths due to the mosquito-borne disease, including Tainan, has reported 112 deaths, followed by 70 in Kaohsiung and two in Pingtung County.

Collection of the blood sucking insects stands to offer valuable information to local, state and federal health officials trying to stop the outbreak. But in a place where dengue doesn’t usually occur, like Hawaii, that’s just not known. Nicknamed “bone fever”, dengue fever symptoms often include a high fever and severe joint and muscle pain. It’s unlikely that people who are well would die of dengue fever, but children, the elderly, people with other medical problems, the malnourished, or those with HIV may be at special risk and want to avoid known risk areas for now. Acetaminophen is given to relieve symptoms, which usually last for one to two weeks.

A map of potential areas of infection by mosquito for confirmed dengue fever cases.