Three New Dengue Cases Confirmed

Red pins represent confirmed cases of dengue fever, yellow pins represent potential dengue fever cases under investigation, and blue pins represent cases that turned out to be negative. Hawai’i County Civil Defense map, as of Jan. 11.

The dengue fever count on the Big Island has risen by three cases, according to the Hawai’i Department of Health.

On Tuesday, the case count rose to 213 cases, the first increase seen since numbers reported last Thursday, which held the count at 210.

DOH officials are listing one individual as currently infectious. This is the same number reported on Monday and is down from Friday’s count of five individuals who remained within the time frame of being infectious.

In the past 24 hours another 15 cases have been scratched off the potentially infectious list and deemed “negative.” Those excluded from the count either have had negative test results or lacked dengue case criteria.

One of the three cases listed Tuesday involved an individual under the age of 18, based on information released by DOH.

In total, 193 Big Island residents have been infected with dengue fever. Another 20 cases have involved visitors to the island.

Hawai’i County Civil Defense released a new map on Monday, including various locations of potential dengue cases or those that have not been confirmed or excluded from the counts. A cluster of suspect cases is noted in the Kailua-Kona region of the island, with additional cases marked in Naalehu, Hilo, Hawi, Mountain View, Kea’au, Honoka’a, and Laupahoehoe.

Confirmed cases, as well as those deemed negative, are scattered throughout the island.

A community meeting has been scheduled for the Miloli’i community. The meeting will be held on Jan. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Miloli’i Beach Park pavilion. Various departments will be present to discuss the current outbreak and measures to “Fight the Bite.”

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, joint or muscle pain, headache or pain behind the eyes, and rash.

Those interested in obtaining general information about the current Big Island dengue fever investigation should call 2-1-1 and talk with Aloha United Way.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted dengue fever on the Big Island should call 933-0912 if they are located in East Hawai‘i or 322-4877 in West Hawai‘i. If an individual is currently ill and concerned that they may have contracted dengue fever, they should contact their primary care physician.

Mosquito concerns should be reported to 974-6010 in East Hawai‘i or 322-1513 in West Hawai‘i.

For more information, visit the DOH website.