No new dengue fever cases confirmed Tuesday

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KAILUA-KONA — Tuesday marked the 14th consecutive day state health officials have confirmed no new cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island.

KAILUA-KONA — Tuesday marked the 14th consecutive day state health officials have confirmed no new cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island.

No new cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been confirmed since Feb. 24. The official case count stands at 260, according to the Department of Health. Of the cases, 135 are Hawaii Island residents and 25 are visitors. Forty-six of the cases have been children.

Since the start of the outbreak in September, 1,420 potential cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria, health officials said. The last onset of illness occurred Feb. 13.

“Although the number and frequency of new confirmed cases appears to be on the decline, the outbreak is not anticipated to be considered over anytime in the near future. Therefore we need everyone’s help to continue to Fight the Bite,” Hawaii County Civil Defense said in its daily update. “To prevent mosquito bites, wear clothing that minimizes exposed skin, use mosquito repellent on skin that cannot be covered, and avoid areas of high mosquito concentration during the early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest.”

Info: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak-2015/