Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002
Honolulu – Beginning Monday, February 25, 2002, television
viewers across the state will be reminded to eliminate standing water
in and around homes to help control the spread of dengue fever in
Hawaii through a 30-second public service announcement that will air on
all major network affiliates—KHON, KITV, KHNL, and KGMB. The PSA
is part of an educational campaign meant to emphasize the importance of
mosquito control, which experts say is the only effective means to
control dengue.
State Health Director Bruce Anderson said, "We are pleased to report
that mosquito control efforts to date seem to have helped dramatically
reduce the numbers of dengue cases. This success is in large part due
to the people of Hawaii and their immediate action to rid their homes
and neighborhoods of mosquito breeding areas. It seems their hard work
has paid off. But we cannot back off now."
DOH officials stress the need for every resident in the state to be
increasingly vigilant about mosquito control in and around their homes,
especially following the rainy period. DOH continues to encourage every
resident to take a few minutes every week to walk around your yard and
home and eliminate mosquito breeding areas, which is really anything
that holds water. Throw away old junk that collects water, like old
buckets and flowerpots. Treat anything you can’t dump out. Just a
few minutes every week can help rid our islands of dengue fever.
Anderson said, "Although the fire seems to be under control, the
fact remains that there is a potential for dengue fever to flare up
anywhere in the state where there are mosquitoes. Dengue is common in
many areas of the world and will likely be brought in to our state from
time to time. So the only way to prevent those introductions from
establishing itself in our islands is to dramatically reduce our
mosquito population. We need your help to do this."
Public education and outreach efforts will continue throughout the
state. Dengue Prevention Team members continue to go door to door on
the windward side of Oahu educating residents on mosquito control. They
point out any potential breeding areas around homes and assist people
in ridding their homes of standing water. They have canvassed nearly
every home on the windward side from Laie to Kahaluu.
Vector control crews continue aggressive mosquito control measures.
To date, more than 16,000 homes have been inspected and over 3,200
homes have been treated statewide.
For more information log onto the DOH web site at www.hawaii.gov/doh/dengue.
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