Residents anxious after Department of Health identifies new dengue virus case in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has identified a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oahu.
Dengue virus is spread from infected person to mosquito to person. The individual traveled to a region where dengue is known to be spread, officials said.
Residents in Kaneohe received a letter from the department informing them that the case involved someone in their neighborhood.
“A lot of people are afraid, because we know how bad it is,” said Kaneohe resident Joni Kamiya, who noted that nearby Kamooalii Stream is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
DOH teams were deployed for inspection and mosquito control in the affected area. The community is asked to help reduce the risk for any local transmission by exercising best practices described below.
While Hawaii is home to the type of mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not endemic (established) here in the state and cases are currently only seen in travelers.
“We’re seeing imported cases from areas where we have high travel, like South Pacific, Southeast Asia, India,” said Matthew Kurano, administrator, DOH Environmental Health Services.
This latest confirmation brings the number of total dengue cases to 13 identified in the state in 2024 (one on Kauai, three on Maui, nine on Oahu), compared to six last year.
“During the pandemic, we saw a really sharp drop off in dengue cases in Hawaii,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble, “but that has now gone back up and even above pre-pandemic levels.”
“We’ve just got to be careful,” said Kamiya. “Kaneohe is very wet and so there’s going to be mosquitoes, and we just got to be aware and take precautions. I mean, that’s the best we can do at this point.”
Hawaii’s last major dengue outbreak was about nine years ago with nearly 240 cases on Hawaii Island.
Multiple regions around the world are currently experiencing higher-than-normal dengue activity.
Dengue outbreaks do occur in many parts of the world including Central and South America, Asia (including the Republic of the Philippines), the Middle East and Africa, as well as some Pacific Islands including the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, as well as many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico).
Anyone who plans to travel or has traveled to an area with dengue is at risk for infection. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises travelers to practice usual precautions when traveling to areas of dengue risk. This includes using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room, a room with window screens or under an insecticide-treated bed net.
Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases, so it is important four to six weeks before you travel, to review country-specific travel information for the most up-to-date guidance on dengue risk and prevention measures for that country. Travelers returning from an area with risk of dengue should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks, and if symptoms of dengue develop within two weeks upon return, should seek medical evaluation.
Symptoms of dengue typically may be mild or severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days and although severe and even life-threatening illness can occur, most people recover after about a week. If you have traveled recently and are experiencing these symptoms, please seek medical advice from a health care provider.
In areas of suspected or confirmed dengue, Hawaii DOH personnel (Vector Control Branch) conduct inspections and mosquito-reducing activities. Reducing mosquito populations reduces the chances of dengue being transmitted to other people. In areas without reported dengue cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites in and around your home is a good practice. Mosquitoes only need small amounts of standing water to breed. Common breeding sites at home include buckets, water-catching plants (such as Bromeliads), small containers, planters, rain barrels or even cups left outside. Simply pouring out containers of standing water eliminates the potential for mosquito breeding.
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