A federal health official has provided a big dose of reassurance on how local authorities are handling the dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii island. 

Lyle Petersen, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s vector-borne disease director, even went so far as to call the state-county coordination “among the best I’ve actually seen in many outbreak situations.”

Those continuing efforts have included mosquito spraying in areas of reported dengue cases and robust awareness campaigns that include preventative tips such as clearing of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

As of Friday afternoon, confirmed cases totaled 136, all on Hawaii island. Folks there, and across our island state, need to remain vigilant and continue taking measures to prevent the fever’s spread.