Nine more dengue fever cases have been reported in Hawaii, bringing the total to 88 and prompting health officials to predict a long haul with the first dengue outbreak in Hawaii since 2011.
In a recent news conference, state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park said, “We’re at the beginning of a marathon. These outbreaks tend to go for months.” It’s even got to the point where the National Guard will be called in to assist.
Lynn Nakasone, chief of the Health Department’s Environment Health Services division, said the Hawaii National Guard is acting in a “support” role, Hawaii News Now reports.
Of the confirmed cases, 75 are Hawaii residents and 13 are visitors. 67 cases have been adults; twenty-one have been children.
As reported yesterday, the Department of Health with support from the County of Hawaii and the Department of Education will be conducting preventive spraying or treating of areas around several school campuses this weekend.
Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and theEditor-in-Chief of Outbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch
Follow @bactiman63
