Health department reports new travel-related dengue case on Oahu

News admin June 18, 2026 0 Comments

Health department reports new travel-related dengue case on Oahu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – State officials have identified and reported a new travel-related dengue virus case.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) said the visitor is a nonresident and is not included in the state’s official count, which remains at five cases statewide.

The department has deployed teams to conduct inspections, provide outreach materials, and implement mosquito control measures in the affected area.

DOH said the affected person was exposed while traveling in a region where dengue is common. The visitor is no longer in Hawaii and is no longer considered to be infectious as related to human-to-mosquito transmission.

Health officials said that the expected risk of local transmission is low.

DOH is urging residents and travelers to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

Dengue virus is transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito and then to another person. While Hawaii is home to the mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not endemic (established) in the state — and cases are currently limited to travelers.

Dengue is a year-round risk in the tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America (including Brazil and Mexico), Asia (including the Philippines), the Middle East, Africa and several Pacific Islands like American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.

Some countries are reporting higher-than-usual numbers of dengue cases, including the Cook Islands, Samoa, Vietnam, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Maldives, Mali, New Caledonia, Timor-Leste and Tonga. Travelers should review up-to-date, country-specific travel information for guidance on dengue risk and prevention measures, at least four to six weeks before traveling.

Anyone who plans to travel to or has recently visited an area with dengue risk is vulnerable to infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises travelers to take standard precautions when visiting such areas. This includes using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, rooms with window screens, or under insecticide-treated bed nets.

Travelers returning from dengue-endemic areas should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks. If dengue symptoms develop within two weeks of return, travelers should seek medical evaluation.

Symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days and while severe illness can occur, most people recover within a week. Individuals who have recently traveled and are experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Healthcare providers and individuals who suspect a dengue infection are advised to call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.

In areas with suspected or confirmed dengue cases, DOH personnel from the Vector Control Branch (VCB) conduct inspections and mosquito-reduction activities. Reducing mosquito populations lowers the risk of dengue transmission to others. In areas without reported dengue cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home is a helpful preventive measure.

For more information, visit the Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) and Vector Control Branch (VCB) websites.