HONAUNAU, Hawaii – State, local and federal officials participated in a public meeting on dengue fever at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on Thursday, February 4.

A crowd of South Kona residents – frustrated by the persistence of the outbreak and growing fatigued by life in a high risk zone for the mosquito-borne disease – questioned the government representatives on their coordinated response.

Since the outbreak began in September 2015, there have been 250 confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island. Of the confirmed cases, 226 are Hawaii Island residents and 24 are visitors. 205 cases have been adults; 45 have been children. Health officials say there have been no deaths due to the disease during the current outbreak.