Four new cases of dengue fever were confirmed by health officials on the Big Island Wednesday. The total case count now stands at 241.
Of the 241 confirmed cases, 217 are Hawaii Island residents and 24 are visitors. Forty-five of them have been among children younger than age 18.
The last onset of illness was Jan. 21, according to the Department of Health. Currently, as many as five of the confirmed cases remain potentially infectious to mosquitoes.
Since the outbreak began last fall, the department has excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria 1,008 reported case.
In a risk area map issued Wednesday, the state identified areas of North Kona, between Honalo and Honokohau, and South Kona, between Kealakekua and about Honaunau, as the only areas on the island as being high risk for infection. Identified as low-risk areas were: Milolii, near Kipahoehoe Natural Area Reserve, Ocean View, Volcano, Mountain View, Pahoa, Kalapana, Kapoho, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches, Keaau into South Hilo, Papaikou, Honomu, Waipio Valley, Waimanu Valley, Kohala Ranch, Kukio, Wawaloli (located south of Kona International Airport), and Kalaoa.
There were no areas with a moderate risk for infection.
Info: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak-2015/ or 974-6001