All this rain we’ve been having has turned Hawaii’s sometimes arid hills green and topped up the aquifers, among other welcome benefits of the wet summer and autumn.

But it also pools up and collects in pots and low spots tucked throughout backyards, hidden in spots that get overlooked during busy daily chores. Where there’s standing water, there’s a heightened chance that mosquitoes will breed.

And mosquitoes can carry dengue fever, as the Department of Health has been documenting on Hawaii island. By Friday, at least 23 cases of the infectious disease had been confirmed there.

The viral illness most commonly occurs in tropical zones during the rainy season. Health officials consider the risk of this outbreak spreading to other islands to be low — a particular mosquito established on Hawaii island is thought to be the culprit. And the most recent past spike of dengue in 2011 tallied only four cases.

But official rightly emphasize that all islands have capable carriers, and they are pursuing the known cases aggressively to keep the disease contained as much as possible.

Nobody should dismiss the experience of 2001, when the misery expanded to 92 cases on Maui, 26 on Oahu and four on Kauai. That is why investigation teams responded quickly recently to a suspected case on Oahu; fortunately, that turned out to be an infection contracted while the patient had been traveling internationally.

Prevention truly is the key to minimizing the outbreak, and this weekend affords an ideal opportunity for the public to lower the risk to themselves and their families.

The advisories from experts:

>> Remove or empty anything that catches or holds standing water around the house.

>> Plants that hold water should be hosed off or sprayed with soapy water weekly.

>> For landscapes with fish ponds or other large containers that can’t be removed or emptied, introducing guppies or other mosquito-eating fish can provide control.

>> Screens should be installed or repaired.

>> Clean gutters of debris so water can drain.

In the case of an active infestation, the department recommends the use of aerosol insecticide that’s labeled for flying insects. Garden shops should stock insecticides labeled for controlling larvae in standing water that cannot be removed.

Repellants can help, but families should follow posted precautions about their use on children in particular.

Above all, Hawaii residents should remain alert to signs of outbreak locally and seek a doctor’s help. The symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, rash, severe headaches, and eye, joint and muscular pain.

With care the symptoms usually dissipate within a week or two, but severe dengue can lead to abnormal bleeding and shock, so vigilance is crucial.

Professional teams provide vital surveillance and expertise for warding off the worst of infectious disease outbreaks such as dengue. There’s reason to hope this one can be kept under control.

But now is the time for taking the proactive stance. That’s the public role in any public health program.