HILO — The U.S. Navy is on standby to help battle dengue fever on the Big Island, the director of the state Department of Health said Wednesday.
Director Ginny Pressler made the announcement during a three-hour informational session with the Hawaii County Council, participating with fellow physicians Sen. Josh Green and Rep. Richard Creagan, county Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and Aaron Ueno, Big Island district health officer for the DOH.
Gov. David Ige, meanwhile, met with Mayor Billy Kenoi on Wednesday to further reinforce the state’s involvement in fighting an outbreak that has at times left Big Island residents feeling they’ve been neglected by the Honolulu-based state government. The meeting was private, and out of view of the public and press.
Pressler said Lyle Petersen, director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several other CDC entomologists are currently surveying the island to find out what kind of mosquitoes are carrying the disease.
“Entomologists from the CDC are, as we speak, trapping mosquitoes,” Pressler said. “That’s how we’ll know how to address the particular mosquitoes that are carrying the disease.”
Pressler said the CDC data will be used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working with the governor to decide — perhaps as soon as Friday — whether to call in the Navy to help with spraying.
“We’re not sure if we need these additional resources yet,” Pressler said after the meeting. “The governor is in discussions with HHS and the Navy to make that determination.”
The informational session was requested by Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung, who wanted more state-level information following community meetings called by Kenoi, in conjunction with Civil Defense and the Health Department.
“This is a matter of great concern for I’d say most of the people on this island,” Chung said. “We’ve got to do whatever we can to keep the people informed. … I think of what is of most interest to us, is what is the game plan.”
Oliveira praised the state for its involvement in a coordinated campaign not only to react to the current cases, but to organize a proactive campaign to prevent the spread of the disease. Additional spraying units are on the way to the island, bringing the total to 20, said Ueno.
“We’re just building capacity as we go in anticipating that this situation could grow,” Oliveira said. “It’s been a real collective effort.”
Green and Creagan, however, expressed continuing frustration with what they saw as a slow response from Honolulu and a lack of understanding about how to get the word out in rural communities.
“We all are aware the consequence of a large outbreak would be too much to bear,” Green said.
Those sentiments were echoed by several council members, and those who asked whether the state was doing enough.
“I don’t feel confident with the state Department of Health’s resources,” said Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille.
Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter was more direct.
“For us, it’s serious, what’s happening,” Poindexter said. “On the Big Island, you’re always the stepchild when it comes to what’s happening. They don’t have the mosquito (on Oahu), so they’re comfortable.”
The meeting is scheduled to be rebroadcast on government access television (Channel 55) at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Check www.naleo.tv for schedule updates.
