State health officials plan to begin spraying insecticide at Big Island schools this weekend as the fight against Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak enters its fourth week.
The outbreak, which was announced Oct. 27, now encompasses a total of 65 confirmed cases, including 55 residents and 10 visitors who have contracted the illness. All the victims became ill after being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
The addition of nine newly confirmed cases since Monday brings the Big Island’s total to more than half that identified in a nine-month-long outbreak on Maui 15 years ago. In that outbreak, which lasted from May 20, 2001, to Feb. 17, 2002, 92 Maui residents, 26 Oahu residents and four Kauai residents were infected.
State and county officials addressed a number of questions from a crowd of about 200 Monday evening during a community meeting at Hilo High School to discuss the outbreak. One question in particular focused on the possible exposure of Hawaii Island students to the mosquito-borne virus.
“I have school-age children, so my first question is, how are we going to get the schools taken care of, with all the kids concentrated in one area?” asked a woman from the audience who identified herself as Sandy. “When they’re spraying, how effective is the spray, and is it residual? Does it last? With all the rain that we’re getting, does it wash away? How often will it be sprayed?
“We want to know how kids are being safe in school. You know, we have to leave windows open, it’s hot in the rooms, we don’t have air-conditioning units here. So, the kids are outdoors a lot. And we want to make sure the campuses are safe for them to be at during the school day.”
In response, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira explained state and county officials have been working closely with the state Department of Education to avoid the spread of dengue fever at Big Island schools.
“Because we’re identifying cases that have been confirmed, as well as possibly suspect cases, nearby to schools, there’s going to be a proactive effort starting this weekend in treating school campuses in areas, starting in Kona as well as here in Hilo, with the same spray treatment the Department of Health is using,” he said.
Known as Aqua-Reslin, the insecticide is a regulated product that can only be purchased and applied by public health officials and specially trained workers. Last week, a number of Hawaii County Public Works and Parks and Recreation workers were trained not only in the application of the insecticide, but also were certified to train others in its use.
Oliveira said parents would be notified about the application of the insecticide ahead of time.
“Obviously, we’re going to do it on the weekends to allow for us to spray when no one’s around. The material that’s being sprayed also leaves a slight residue that will kill the mosquitoes that land on the surface, so we want to apply that when no one is around the campus. It is safe, once it’s settled, and you’re not breathing anything in,” he said.
In a Tuesday phone interview, Oliveira said plans still were being finalized, but it appeared spraying would be done at all Konawaena campuses, including Kona Pacific Charter School, as well as Hilo High and Intermediate, and Waiakea Elementary and Intermediate.
He added parents should not be concerned about the health effects of the spraying.
“The treatments are very specific,” Oliveira said. “It’s a backpack misting-type sprayer, with an operator and a spotter working. They go around campus and identify areas. It’s not like they envelope the whole campus in this product. They’re treating very specific areas, like pockets in vegetation where mosquitoes are inhabiting.”
Also, he said, school employees have been working to identify areas of standing water that are possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
As for future spraying at additional schools, those plans still are being discussed, he said.
“We’re going to work with the Department of Education and the Department of Health on what is the most effective application of the resources we have,” Oliveira said. “We’re definitely having discussions about if we move forward in treating all the schools. … We want to be as aggressive in this campaign as possible, as well as being prudent with the resources we use.”
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
