Dengue fever, Hawaii, 2001-2002.
Autochthonous dengue infections were last reported in Hawaii in 1944. In September 2001, the Hawaii Department of Health was notified of an unusual febrile illness in a resident with no travel history; dengue fever was confirmed. During the investigation, 1,644 persons with locally acquired denguelike illness were evaluated, and 122 (7%) laboratory-positive dengue infections were identified; dengue virus serotype 1 was isolated from 15 patients. No cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome were reported. In 3 instances autochthonous infections were linked to a person who reported denguelike illness after travel to French Polynesia. Phylogenetic analyses showed the Hawaiian isolates were closely associated with contemporaneous isolates from Tahiti. Aedes albopictus was present in all communities surveyed on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai; no Ae. aegypti were found. This outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining surveillance and control of potential disease vectors even in the absence of an imminent disease threat.
Effler
Paul V
PV
Disease Outbreak Control Division, Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. pveffler@mail.health.state.hi.us
Pang
Lorrin
L
Kitsutani
Paul
P
Vorndam
Vance
V
Nakata
Michele
M
Ayers
Tracy
T
Elm
Joe
J
Tom
Tammy
T
Reiter
Paul
P
Rigau-Perez
José G
JG
Hayes
John M
JM
Mills
Kristin
K
Napier
Mike
M
Clark
Gary G
GG
Gubler
Duane J
DJ
D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors