Mayor Calls for Zika Awareness, Prevention on Kaua‘i

Following the disclosure of a second confirmed case of Zika virus in the state of Hawai‘i, and the first on Kaua‘i, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. asked Kaua‘i residents for assistance with community awareness and preventive measures.

The ongoing Dengue outbreak on the Big Island, along with the threats of Zika, Chikungunya and other diseases spread by mosquitoes, has been a concern for many on Kaua‘i, according to Carvalho.

The announcement earlier this week by the Hawai‘i Department of Health regarding a case of the Zika virus on Kaua‘i reinforces the need for community awareness and preventive measures that should be taken to help prevent Zika, Dengue and similar diseases from becoming established here, he said in a press release.

The case on Kaua‘i is regarded as travel-associated and imported, meaning the disease was not contracted on the island.

“On the county’s end, I have been working closely with the Kaua‘i Civil Defense Agency, the Kaua‘i District Health Office and other county and state partners in collaborative, preventive and preparedness efforts. Gov. Ige’s recent emergency proclamation and statewide coordination by the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency and the DOH has reinforced and strengthened our efforts,” Carvalho said.

The mayor sent out a “Fight the Bite” poster and asked the community to share it with family and friends. The poster lists several steps to help to eliminate the diseases’ vector, the mosquitoes.

“By following these simple steps, we can all help to reduce the mosquito population, prevent mosquito bites, and most importantly, prevent the establishment and spread of Dengue and similar diseases on Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau,” Carvalho said.