Dengue fever outbreak: Civil Defense shuts down access to Waipio Valley

HILO — For the first time since Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak began last fall, Civil Defense officials have ordered a site outside of Kona off limits to visitors.

Access to Waipio Valley was restricted around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after new information pointed to residents there being connected to the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, said Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira.

The closure of Waipio marked the third such move by officials, following the earlier closures of Milolii and Hookena beach parks on the west side of the island.

About 150 visitors visit the valley every day, he said, but now access will be limited to Waipio residents only.

“We made a decision to be a little more proactive,” Oliveira said. “Even though we only have limited evidence to suggest (dengue) may be involving residents, we felt we should be more precautionary.”

The lush valley, with its plethora of taro patches and other agricultural crops, is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, Oliveira said, so limiting human exposure to mosquitoes there is paramount in the continued “Fight the Bite!” campaign to stop the spread of the virus.

“The environment is definitely supportive of mosquito breeding,” he said.

Before this week, six confirmed cases of dengue fever had been linked in one way or another to Waipio Valley, but Wednesday was the first time residents had been exposed to the virus, Oliveira explained.

Vector Control workers sprayed properties down in the valley Tuesday that were directly related to confirmed cases, Oliveira said, as well as adjacent properties up to 25 yards away. Beginning today, entomologists will take a closer look at areas in Waipio to assess whether the more efficient carrier of the virus, known as the aedes aegypti mosquito, is present.

“We’ve had to do a quick assessment as to what species (of mosquito) is the dominant species down there, to guide treatment,” he said. “Previous studies didn’t indicate there was a presence (of aedes aegypti) in Waipio Valley, but things change over time and we definitely want to make sure.”

Should additional spraying and treatments be required, they will be undertaken as soon as possible, he said.

Access to the valley will remain restricted until further notice, he said. The attendant at the entrance to the valley will notify people trying to drive down the access road that only residents are allowed to enter.

“He is aware of who are the full-time residents of the valley,” Oliveira said.

Gary Matsuo, who has operated the Waipio Valley Shuttle since he took over the business in 1981, said he would be putting his business on hold until the situation is controlled.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I can’t be too pushy. I’ve just gotta remember that this is something that affects all of us on the island, and if I gotta take the hit, I’ll take the hit. I’ve gotta make the sacrifice to make sure we stop this.”

Matsuo said he employs a number of Waipio Valley residents through his business, which typically shuttles about 25 visitors a day into the valley.

“Only time will tell,” he said. “If (the business) shuts down for a month, I’ll be pretty affected and sad. But I have hope that the county will do whatever they can to treat the area and then we can get back to going down again.”

“We’ve been very proactive since the start of the outbreak, and I’ve always told my drivers to give out (mosquito repellent) spray to people free of charge if they want it. That way, if anybody was infected, it would stop the spread so mosquitoes wouldn’t get infected in the valley. But I guess it didn’t stop it.”

The state Department of Health reported Wednesday two new confirmed cases of dengue fever, bringing the islandwide total to 215 since the first onset of illness was reported as occurring on Sept. 11.

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

Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.