A health official Monday reported an uptick in respiratory infections in Hawaii.

Although there are flu cases, state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said most of the respiratory infections are not caused by the influenza virus.

The Health Department regularly monitors influenza and other respiratory pathogens throughout Hawaii. Flu season in the state is year-round due to the tourist population, unlike the mainland where the season is typically from October to May.

Visitors traveling to Hawaii and individuals going to work while they are ill are potential factors in the increase of respiratory infections.

“We get a lot of visitors,” Park said. Also, individuals who are ill with a fever, cough and other symptoms but still go to work spread their illness to co-workers.

There are a lot of respiratory infections from other viruses, other pathogens such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, she said.

Park reminds people to wash their hands often and recommends those who are sick stay home until they recover.

Council mulls stricter bulky-trash rules

Residents ditching furniture and other bulky household trash illegally along city streets, sidewalks and roadsides could get hit with hefty fines under a bill co-sponsored by two Honolulu City Council members.

Bill 24, introduced by Council members Kymberly Pine and Ron Menor, creates new language in the city ordinance that says “no person shall throw, drop, place, dump or deposit refuse or bulky wastes on a street, roadside, alley, highway or public place.” It allows an exception for residents to place bulky items on the sidewalk in front of their property to be picked up by city crews at scheduled pickup times.

Those found guilty of violating the new bulky-item pickup rules could be subject to a fine of up to $2,500 per occurrence.

The bill is up for first reading before the Council today.

The measure targets those doing the actual dumping rather than placing that responsibility with property owners and managers.

“Residents are tired of seeing their sidewalks turned into illegal dumps,” Pine said in a news release.

Added Menor in the same release, “Townhome associations and property managers have been unfairly fined for illegally dumped items fronting their property. With this legislation, the actual violators will be targeted and fined.”

City-sponsored Easter egg hunts planned

The city will host two Easter egg hunts this weekend, one at Halawa District Park and another at Koko Head District Park.

A family-friendly event featuring an egg hunt and a variety of games will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Koko Head District Park, 423 Kaumakani St. in Hawaii Kai. For more information, contact Arlene Ling at 395-5314 or Joann Beall at 395-3407.

Another event begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at Halawa District Park, 99-795 Iwaiwa St. It will be divided by age groups: 3 years old and younger, 4 to 5 years old, 6 to 8 years old and 9 to 12 years old. The first 200 participants will receive a goodie bag.

The Halawa park egg hunt is organized by employees and volunteers of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Halawa Complex, which includes Fern Community Park, Halawa District Park, Moanalua Community Park and the Moanalua Pool. For more information, call 483-7852 or 483-7850.

Forecasters predict onset of high winds

Windy and cool weather was expected to touch down in the islands, starting late Tuesday and continuing into Thursday as a cold front makes its way across the state.

The front could bring light to moderate showers, mostly to north-facing slopes, as it reaches Maui and Hawaii counties today. The weather system could stall near Hawaii island and bring rain to windward areas through Friday.

National Weather Service forecasters expect north winds to pick up after the front passes and have issued a 24-hour wind advisory for Lanai, starting at 6 a.m. today. Winds speeds up to 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 50 mph.

News website’s drone helps extinguish fire

Maui firefighters used an online news operation’s aerial drone to help extinguish a 4-acre fire in dense brush off Kahekili Highway on Monday night.

Because the fire was in a dense growth of trees about a quarter-mile from Makaala Drive, off Kahekili Highway, firefighters said they had trouble finding the exact location. The acting battalion chief asked for assistance from Maui 24/7, which was operating an aerial drone in the area, Maui Fire Department officials said.

Acting Battalion Chief Lee Theros said in a news release Tuesday, “With the assistance of this drone, fire crews were able to identify the extent of the brush fire within the dense overgrowth and trees.”

The Maui Fire Department said crews from Wailuku and Kahului were dispatched at about 7:20 p.m. Monday. Additional crews from Makawao and Kihei were called to assist.

The brush fire was extinguished Tuesday. There were no injuries.

Meetings on bill closed to public

A Kauai committee tasked with coming up with solutions for the island’s feral cat problem has been holding its meetings behind closed doors, which Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura says allows members to express their ideas more freely.

The Garden Island reported Monday that Yukimura brought the nine-person committee together more than a year ago to help draft a feral cats bill that she plans to introduce to the County Council.

Yukimura says there will be room for public debate once the bill is introduced.