Dengue Fever Outbreak in Hawaii Gets Help From CDC After 100 Cases

The dengue fever outbreak in Hawaii is now being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and officials from the federal bureau traveled to meet with local health authorities on Tuesday.

According to CNN, Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the CDC's division of vector borne infectious diseases, was accompanied by two colleagues on the trip.

A total of 117 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed since September, the vast majority of which have affected local residents.

The disease is primarily spread through two type of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypto and Aedes albopictus, and both are found in Hawaii.

Because of the nature of transmission, Petersen and his colleagues traveled with traps that work well to capture the mosquitoes.

So far, investigators believe the dengue fever was likely brought to Hawaii by a traveler. It usually occurs in tropical Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. There are more than 100 million annual cases worldwide, Time magazine reported.

Roughly one fourth of people who acquire the sickness actually experience symptoms. Nicknamed "bone fever," dengue fever symptoms often include a high fever and severe joint and muscle pain. Symptoms typically begin five to seven days after exposure.

"If you find a mosquito, that means you’ve got a clogged gutter or you’ve got a bromeliad with water in it or you’ve got water somewhere. Get rid of the water. Make sure your screens are repaired and you can use mosquito netting as well," Department of Health director Dr. Virginia Pressler instructed residents last week, KHON-TV reported.

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