Title: The dengue fever outbreak in Hawaii: a bioterrorism model for vector-borne illnesses

Authors: Victoria Garshnek, Lawrence Burgess

Addresses: Telehealth Research Institute – 212, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Medical Education Building, 651 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. ' Telehealth Research Institute – 212, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Medical Education Building, 651 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA

Abstract: Dengue fever is a flu-like illness of viral origin transmitted via various day-feeding mosquitoes. Annually there are approximately 20 million cases worldwide with 24,000 deaths. Hawaii|s Dengue Fever outbreak in 2001 came during a terrorism national attack providing insight into a possible vector-borne bioterrorism (BT) event. The dengue model is valid, as the National Institutes of Health has upgraded dengue fever as a potential BT threat. The Hawaii experience makes it possible to list strengths/capabilities necessary for dealing with such biological events and relate this to the national state of BT preparedness.

Keywords: vector-borne bioterrorism; dengue fever; disease outbreaks; Hawaii; technology; telemedicine; vector-borne illnesses; mosquitoes; emergency management; healthcare management; terrorism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2007.014196

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.8 No.6, pp.661 - 675

Published online: 25 Jun 2007 *

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