Dengue Fever in Hawai‘i: What We Know So Far
Last week, 12 total cases of the mosquito-borne dengue fever virus were reported by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health
On August 23rd, 2024, the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 12 travel-related dengue fever case in Hawai‘i – one on Kaua‘i, eight on O‘ahu, and three on Maui. According to the DOH, “the affected travelers were exposed in various countries where dengue is common.” At least one of the Maui cases was reported in Hāna. Because state agencies are currently releasing millions of imported bacteria-infected mosquitoes in East Maui, the community has concerns about new cases of mosquito-borne illness.
What we know at this time is that these dengue cases were not locally acquired.
“Dengue virus is spread from infected person to mosquito to person. While Hawai‘i is home to the type of mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not endemic (established) here in the state, and cases are currently only seen in travelers. Multiple regions around the world are currently experiencing higher-than-normal dengue activity.”
The experimental southern house mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus) being released on Maui are not the species known to carry dengue. Still, we have questions. We reached out first to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health.
In early August, Hawai‘i Unites contacted the DOH with questions. The case count at that time was 11. We asked where the travel-related case in Hāna originated and requested available information on the patient, their travel location and local location, symptoms, diagnosis, and mitigation measures to prevent transmission. The DOH responded:
“Of the 11 dengue cases reported in Hawaiʻi since Jan. 1, 2024 to the present, five had traveled to Central or South America and six had traveled to Asia.
Symptoms of dengue typically may be mild or severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days and although severe and even life-threatening illness can occur, most people recover after about a week.
When a suspected or confirmed case of dengue is reported to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH), actions to prevent transmission include working with the case on actions to prevent mosquito bites. In areas of suspected or confirmed dengue, Hawai‘i DOH personnel (Vector Control Branch) conduct inspections and mosquito-reducing activities.
To protect the privacy of individuals with dengue, DOH does not release potentially identifying information on individual cases.”
We inquired about which type of dengue virus was diagnosed in the Hāna patient (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, or DENV-4), and the DOH stated that the Hāna case was DENV-3. The DOH also let us know that there were four cases of DENV-1 and three cases of DENV-3 on Oahu at that time and that all statewide cases were unrelated and acquired from international travel.
The DOH confirmed that the only known dengue vector present on Maui is Aedes albopictus, and that according to the CDC, “dengue viruses are spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes” (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). According to the DOH, Aedes albopictus is well distributed all around the state of Hawaiʻi, including Maui. The DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division notes that “Aedes albopictus may be found on all islands, while Aedes aegypti has only been found in some areas on the Big Island.”
We’re continuing to research these additional questions asked, as well as the DOH responses:
Hawai‘i Unites: Has the Culex quinquefasciatus species of mosquito ever been documented as transmitting dengue anywhere globally?
DOH: No.
Hawai‘i Unites: Can Culex quinquefasciatus carry dengue without transmitting to people?
DOH: No.
Hawai‘i Unites: Does dengue virus transmit between mosquitoes through mating, breeding, and/or horizontal transmission in the environment?
DOH: No known horizontal transmission in the environment. There are reports of vertical transmission (female mosquito to eggs) in endemic areas.
According to the CDC, “Mosquitoes become infected with dengue virus when they bite a person infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.”
Hawai‘i Unites: Are mosquitoes imported into Hawai‘i as biopesticide products screened for dengue virus?
DOH: Please refer to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture or Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources for this question.
We know from our research that dengue virus does transmit between mosquitoes through mating (sexual/venereal horizontal transmission). The 1987 peer-reviewed study “Sexual Transmission of Dengue Viruses by Aedes albopictus” states:
“Male Aedes albopictus experimentally infected with dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, or 4 transmitted their infection sexually to female Ae. albopictus. Such transmission was enhanced if the females had taken a bloodmeal 2 to 7 days prior to mating. Male Ae. albopictus also transmitted dengue virus vertically to their F1 [first filial generation] progeny.”
The 2018 peer-reviewed study “Demonstration of Efficient Vertical and Venereal Transmission of Dengue Virus Type-2 in a Genetically Diverse Laboratory Strain of Aedes aegypti” also confirms:
“Vertically infected males that have DENV [dengue virus] in their reproductive tracts can sexually transmit DENV to non-infected virgin GDLS [genetically diverse laboratory strain] females during mating.”
One of our concerns about the bacteria-infected mosquito release project is the lack of information on pathogen screenings of the imported experimental mosquitoes. We did reach out to both the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to ask if the mosquitoes being imported into Hawai‘i are screened for dengue virus. The DLNR, lead state agency in the mosquito release experiment, didn’t respond. The HDOA sent the following responses from the Plant Quarantine Branch:
“As DOH stated, Culex quinquefasciatus, cannot transmit dengue to people.”
“The imported mosquitoes are males and do not bite, therefore cannot transmit dengue.”
“Dengue cannot be transmitted directly from mosquito to mosquito”
“The imported mosquitoes have been raised under laboratory conditions for generations and the females have never had the opportunity to be exposed to a host for blood feeding.”
“Mosquitoes that are being imported and released by DLNR are not required to be screened for dengue, malaria, etc. because they have all been bred from disease-free stock.”
Again, we do know that dengue can be transmitted directly from mosquito to mosquito through mating. We also know that lab-bred female mosquitoes need blood meals to produce eggs. Bill Gates boasts about mosquito lab blood feedings in his GatesNotes blog.
“Inside a two-story brick building in Medellín, Colombia, scientists work long hours in muggy labs breeding millions and millions of mosquitoes. They tend to the insects’ every need as they grow from larvae to pupae to adults, keeping the temperature just right and feeding them generous helpings of fishmeal, sugar, and, of course, blood.”
“To thrive, adults need sugar… and blood, which the team sources from expired stocks at blood banks.”
Unfortunately, the Department of Agriculture has yet to respond to our follow-up questions:
How many females per males released does the contract with Verily allow for?
How many females per males released do EPA guidelines allow for?
Are the female mosquitoes fed in the lab with expired human blood from blood banks?
Are the female mosquitoes fed in the lab with animal blood? If so, where does the animal blood come from, and what pathogens is it screened for?
What pathogens are the mosquitoes screened for prior to being imported into Hawai'i?
While the Verily contract details remain undisclosed, we know from the documents of the agencies involved that EPA guidelines allow for the release of one female for every 250,000 males. Based on the final environmental assessment for the Maui project, that calculates to over 3,103 females allowed to be released weekly in East Maui. Female mosquitoes bite, breed, and spread disease. The HDOA is the applicant for the EPA Section 18 FIFRA Emergency Exemption for use of the lab-altered mosquitoes, so they also know these figures.
At this point, however, there is no reason to believe that the 12 cases of dengue fever in Hawai‘i are connected to the release of millions of imported bacteria-infected mosquitoes on Maui. The dengue cases are said to be travel-related and not locally acquired, and the southern house mosquitoes (Culex q.) being released are not the species known to carry and transmit dengue. Though researchers have been able to infect Culex q. with dengue in lab studies, this species is not considered a biological vector of the virus.
What is concerning is that we still don’t know what pathogens the imported mosquitoes are being screened for. The HDOA states that they’re “not required to be screened for dengue, malaria, etc.” What about screening for diseases that this species is known to transmit, including West Nile virus, elephantiasis, and encephalitis? Southern house mosquitoes are a potential vector of Zika virus. Are they screened for Zika? Hawai‘i Unites’ FOIA request to obtain pathogen screening documentation for the mosquitoes from the EPA resulted in that information being withheld as confidential.
We also don’t know what blood the female mosquitoes are being fed in the lab. Is it sourced from humans or animals? Is the blood screened for diseases?
Another concern is that we do have a known vector of dengue here on Maui, Aedes albopictus. This species can bite an infected person and transmit to another person. If the suppression of Culex q. mosquitoes causes a surge in the population of Aedes albopictus, this could increase the potential for a dengue outbreak on the island.
We are watching closely for any signs that the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health is looking at case counts of mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue as a catalyst to push forward with their plan to release their own lab-altered mosquitoes to “control mosquitoes of public health concern.” There have been no updates on the HDOH’s drafting of a statewide environmental assessment targeting all islands for these releases, though agency documents confirm that the DLNR and HDOH submitted a joint application to import adult transinfected Culex q., Aedes albopictus, and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for immediate field release.
Hawai‘i Unites has taken the DLNR and their Board to court to stop the release of bacteria-infected mosquitoes on Maui. Our case is active and is in the appeals process. This case is strong, and we’re ready to take it to trial and move forward with discovery of important documents and admissions from the state.
We can set a precedent here in Hawai‘i to stop this reckless biotech experimentation agenda worldwide. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to help us move our legal case forward and support the work that we’re doing to protect the health of Hawai‘i’s people, wildlife, and ‘āina.
Mahalo,
Tina Lia
Founder
Hawai‘i Unites
HawaiiUnites.org
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Report a Mosquito Bite
The State of Hawai‘i and its multi-agency partnership Birds, Not Mosquitoes have been releasing bacteria-infected mosquitoes in East Maui and conducting pilot study releases on Kaua‘i since 2023. As part of our ongoing research and documentation, Hawai‘i Unites has been compiling reports from throughout the islands about unusual mosquito bite reactions. If you’ve been bitten by a mosquito and would like to report the incident, please complete our Mosquito Bite Incident Report.
Malice cannot be ruled out.