Dengue fever case count reaches 252

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Health officials on Tuesday reported just one new case of dengue fever on the Big Island.

The total confirmed case count now stands at 252. Of the confirmed cases, one remains potentially infectious to mosquitoes, according to the state Department of Health. Some 228 of the cases are Hawaii Island residents and 24 are visitors; forty-five have been children.

Since the start of the outbreak in September, 1,143 reported cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria.

Dengue is a virus that is transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito, which can then infect another person. The best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to prevent mosquito bites by wearing light colored clothing that minimizes exposed skin, using mosquito repellent, and avoiding activities in areas of high mosquito concentration during the early morning and late afternoon periods, according to officials.

Info: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak-2015/