CDC Lists Travelers Alert on Big Island Dengue

While the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever continues to rise on the Big Island, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak isn’t major.

An Associated Press report Friday lists that on a yearly basis, 400 million people are infected with the virus.

The Big Island count has reached 88, 75 of which have been residents and another 13 visitors.

According to the AP, CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases Director Dr. Lyle Peterson says the Big Island breakout isn’t huge, but it is unique for the state since the last major outbreak was in 2001.

Those traveling to Hawai’i are being alerted via the CDC website that dengue cases have been reported in the islands, however, AP reports that Dr. Peterson called the risk factor “minimal.”