Waipio Reopens Following Two-Month Dengue Closure

File photo by Brian Baldwin.

Hawai’i County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira has announced the reopening of Waipio Valley following its Jan. 13 closure as a result of the Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak.

Hawai’i County and Hawai’i Department of Health officials reopened the valley to the public at 8 a.m. Saturday.

No cases have been confirmed in the area since Feb.1, according to Oliveira.

Waipio Valley is the last of three locations to reopen. Hookena was closed in November and reopened on March 1, and Milolii was closed on Dec. 24 and reopened on March 11.

As of Friday afternoon, one case of dengue fever had been confirmed on the island, totaling 262 cases.

“This new confirmed case helps to remind everyone that as previously stated, this outbreak remains active and is not anticipated to be considered over anytime in the near future,” Oliveira said via radio message.

On Friday, Civil Defense was unsure if the case confirmed was a pending case that had been in the valley. Civil Defense officials told Big Island Now that if the pending case was ultimately deemed negative, the valley would reopen.