Journal archives for November 2015

November 19, 2015

Outbreak of Dengue on Big Island hi-lights need

The ongoing outbreak of Dengue virus on the Big Island hi-lights the need for understanding the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes in Hawaii.

There are two species in the state that can easily transmit Dengue, the Yellow-fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) only found on the Big Island and the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) found throughout the state. The former species is a bigger threat because it is a more efficient vector of Dengue. We found the Yellow fever mosquito to currently be restricted to the dry side of the Big Island with the exception of a few records near Kalapana on the other side of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

In our experience the Asian Tiger Mosquito is widespread and very abundant on the wet side as well as wetter areas on the dry side of the island. We located the Yellow Fever Mosquito on the dry side of the Big Island from Kawaihae in the N, commonly on the Kona coast from the beach parks and coastal towns to the altitude at Captain Cook or above and Manuka State Wayside as well as on the wetter end of the island in Kalapana where it may be expanding its range.

Both species use containers to breed so dumping these out and cleaning them up is critical. Such containers include trays and saucers that collect water below potted plants at home and in plant nurseries, rainwater barrels and cisterns, water tanks and anywhere there is trash especially discarded bottles and cans. Plants such as spider lilies and bromeliads also breed these and other species of mosquitos. Look out for fountains, water features in yards, watered landscapes in tourist areas, and forested areas with frequent moisture especially where tree-holes, cut bamboo, crevices in rock walls and other places where water can collect abound.

The department of health recently released a map of cases, showing several in higher altitude areas where these container breeding mosquitoes might be rare or seasonal as well as locations where the Tiger mosquito is more likely than the Yellow fever mosquito.

See here:

http://www.hawaii247.com/2015/11/09/map-of-dengue-fever-potential-exposure-areas-is-released-monday-nov-9/

To familiarize yourself with Dengue see: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dib/disease/dengue/

Don't forget to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and repellent when outdoors and exposed to mosquitoes!

Durrell

Posted on November 19, 2015 10:40 PM by cydno cydno | 0 comments | Leave a comment