State health officials identified no new cases of dengue fever Thursday, a day after the Kailua-Kona area was deemed a high-risk area for infection.
State health officials identified no new cases of dengue fever Thursday, a day after the Kailua-Kona area was deemed a high-risk area for infection.
The total case count stood at 241 Thursday, according to the Department of Health. Of the confirmed cases, 217 are Hawaii Island residents and 24 are visitors. Forty-five of them have been among children younger than age 18.
The last onset of illness was Jan. 21, according to the Department of Health. Currently, as many as three of the confirmed cases remain potentially infectious to mosquitoes.
Since the outbreak began last fall, the department has excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria 1,018 reported case.
In a risk area map issued Wednesday, the state identified areas of North Kona, between Honalo and Honokohau, and South Kona, between Kealakekua and about Honaunau, as the only areas on the island as being high risk for infection. Identified as low-risk areas were: Milolii, near Kipahoehoe Natural Area Reserve, Ocean View, Volcano, Mountain View, Pahoa, Kalapana, Kapoho, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches, Keaau into South Hilo, Papaikou, Honomu, Waipio Valley, Waimanu Valley, Kohala Ranch, Kukio, Wawaloli (located south of Kona International Airport), and Kalaoa.
There were no areas with a moderate risk for infection.
The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation will close four Kona parks on Friday. Click here for details.
Info: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak-2015/ or 974-6001