HILO, Hawaii – The Waipi’o Valley Access Road is still closed due to dengue fever, and the closure is being reinforced with police, civil defense officials say.

Presently, only valley residents and farmers are permitted to take the road into Waipi’o.

Darryl Oliveira told the Hawaii County Council in Hilo on Wednesday that the last known case of dengue fever in Waipi’o Valley was on February 1. He said that more time is needed to ensure that the disease can no longer be contracted from mosquitoes in the valley before access is reopened to visitors.

The closure has been a hardship on local business in Kukuihaele and Honoka’a. However, Hawaii County Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter said residents and farmers have appreciated the closure, saying it has allowed the valley to “rest”.

Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira presented the latest information on the coordinated response to the dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island during a special meeting of the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday, March 2.

MORE: March 2, 2016 Special Meeting of the Hawaii County Council