Vector Control Branch News Today

Dengue virus is spread from infected person to mosquito to person. While Hawai‘i is home to the type of mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not established here in the state, and cases are currently only seen in travelers.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has received report of a travel-related dengue case on O‘ahu. The person had traveled to a region where dengue is known to be spread. 

DOH Reports Travel-Related Dengue Virus Case

The last confirmed case of locally acquired dengue in Hawaii was in 2016.

The health department is requiring the food establishment to take corrective actions before allowing the establishment to reopen to the public. A followup inspection is scheduled for Nov. 6.

Malaria is a unique mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite and is transmitted through female anopheles mosquitoes often found in tropical and subtropical areas such as in Africa south of the Sahara and parts of Oceania such as Papua New Guinea. Anopheles mosquitoes are not found in Hawai‘i. Malaria is not spread from person to person and is not sexually transmitted. The incubation period is typically from seven to 30 days.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has received one report of a travel-related malaria case in Honolulu County.  There is generally no risk of transmission in Hawai‘i, as the type of mosquito that is capable of transmitting malaria to humans is not known to be present within the state.

DOH Reports Travel-Related Malaria Case

DOH Reports Travel-Related Dengue Virus Cases

Two travel-related dengue cases have been reported in the state, one on Kauai and the other on Hawaii island, the state Department of Health said on Friday.