Whew!

Or perhaps we should say: Swat!

It’s good news to hear that the dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii island has ended, with no new cases reported in the past 30 days. Concern spiked after the first locally acquired case was confirmed in September, and cases grew to 264 before the outbreak subsided.

Hawaii’s cases made national and international news, with the worry over dengue here heightened by threats elsewhere from other mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and chikungunya.

Now comes ongoing education and vigilance — plus more budgeted vector-control staffers — to keep the mosquitoes and dengue at bay. The prevention includes routine cleanup of old tires and pots of standing water, prime breeding grounds for the pesky insects.