HONOLULU (AP) – Hawaii officials say they have reached a milestone in controlling the state’s dengue fever outbreak now that 30 days have passed since the last known infected person was contagious.
“As we celebrate this milestone today, I think it’s critical that everyone understand this is not the end,” said Virginia Pressler, director of the state Department of Health.
Hawaii welcomes 200,000 visitors per day, and the state’s residents travel to places where dengue fever and the Zika virus – spread by the same mosquitoes – are endemic, Pressler said in a news conference Wednesday.
“This is just the beginning of a new phase where we need to be prepared every day for a new mosquito-borne disease outbreak,” she said.
Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO George Szigeti said the timing of the announcement before the state’s peak tourism season was ideal.