The Navy in Hawaii is spreading the word about stopping the spread of dengue fever. On Dec. 10 Navy Entomologist Lt. j.g. Liza Gerardo of Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Six (NEPMU-6) appeared on local TV to talk about how dengue can be prevented.

As of Dec. 10 there were 145 cases of dengue isolated on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Gerardo showed how mosquitoes are trapped and identified. She was interviewed by co-anchor Jai Cunningham on KHON(FOX)2's Wake Up 2day biweekly Navy News segment.

The Navy routinely conducts surveys, studies and shares information with the state. Providing information about dengue and tips for preventing mosquitoes is everyone's responsibility, according the health officials.

"Dengue is a virus that is transmitted by (certain types of) infected female mosquito and ... it makes you feel really crummy for a couple of weeks," Gerardo said. Symptoms include high fever, headaches and joint pain. Dengue can be life-threatening in rare situations.

As for prevention, Gerardo gave advice on "the four Ds of dengue - drain, discard, deny and DEET."

"Drain: If you have any flower pots, food bowls for your pets or gutters, make sure they're drained at least once a week.

"Discard: Look around your home; if you have any empty containers or rubbish, throw it away. Make sure it's not collecting water.

"Deny is about exclusion, so make you have no holes in your screens and they are put up appropriately so when you open the windows no mosquitoes come inside.

"DEET: We recommend everyone wear a DEET repellent like the ones I brought, or an appropriate alternative ... available at any regular store."

Gerardo displayed examples of repellent and demonstrated how mosquito traps and collection are used in the field.

The video and a related story are available online: http://khon2.com/2015/12/10/the-navy-helps-stop-the-spread-of-dengue-fever/


For more news from Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visit www.navy.mil/.