35 Dengue Fever Cases in Hawaii
Federal health officials have confirmed 35 cases of dengue fever in Hawaii, including the first to occur on an island other than Maui, state Health Director Bruce Anderson reported Tuesday.
However, the single confirmed case on Kauai apparently was that of a person who traveled recently to the east Maui area where most of the confirmed cases have occurred, he said.
Dr. Paul Effler, chief of the Department of Health’s Epidemiology Section, said there are 127 cases with flu-like symptoms consistent with dengue fever under investigation on several islands. Effler said evidence in Hawaii points to the Asian tiger mosquito as the source.
“We need to assume the worst, that some of those cases will be confirmed,” Anderson said.
The state is spraying locations where there are suspected cases to kill adult mosquitoes and to eliminate mosquito breeding.
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