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Q: How far can a mosquito fly?
A: Experts say the Aedes mosquito tends to stick to a small “home range,” probably flying not more than 200 yards from its breeding site. That’s why reducing standing water around homes can make such a difference in combating dengue fever.
Q: When should I protect myself from mosquito bites?
A: The mosquito that is carrying the dengue virus in Hawai‘i is described as a daytime biter. That doesn’t mean only when the sun is shining: The mosquito is active at dawn and dusk, on overcast days and in shady areas.
Q. Why does it take so long to get dengue test results?
A. The state Department of Health has had to send its samples to a dengue fever laboratory in Puerto Rico, which meant that results took two to three weeks. But the department, on the week of Nov. 12, took over testing at its local lab. That will speed the process to just a couple of days, according to the Health Department.
Q. The Postal Service has advised people to wash their hands after opening their mail, in case it might contain anthrax. Would that remove the bacteria from your hands and wouldn’t doing so contaminate the water system?
A. To become infected, anthrax needs to enter your system through broken skin, or be inhaled or swallowed, a Health Department spokeswoman said. Washing your hands would wash away the anthrax spores. People are advised, however, to seek medical attention if they suspect they have been exposed. Washing anthrax down the drain would not contaminate the water system, the spokeswoman said.
Q: Are calls to fire and police officials for suspicious packages and envelopes slowing down?
A: After a drop in the number of daily calls in late October, there were 31 suspicious-substance calls on Nov. 1, matching the one-day high. The total number of calls since Oct. 12 topped 311 on Nov. 2, fire officials said. None of the suspicious substances has tested positive for anthrax.
Q: With the number of dengue fever cases still rising, are any additional measures being taken to stem its spread?
A: While the number of cases has climbed to 74 as of Nov. 1, with three more cases on O'ahu, one more in the Hana area and the first case on the Big Island, officials say they are encouraged that the increases are relatively small. In recent days, the state Health Department has been canvassing homes in Windward O'ahu to teach people how to remove mosquito breeding grounds. And since the outbreak surfaced in East Maui in June, more than 1,300 locations statewide have been sprayed with insecticides.
Q: What changes in security were ordered this week at Hawai'i's airports?
A: Increased security measures dictate that no water craft, vessels, swimmers, water skiers or fishermen are permitted within 400 feet on the ocean side of any state airport, the state Department of Transportation said Oct. 30. Violators will be subject to arrest and trespassing charges. Navigators are urged to check nautical maps for specific boundaries at each airport. At Honolulu International Airport, the 400-foot boundary includes the portion of Ke'ehi Lagoon from the entrance of the channel to the vicinity of Lele Street. All water activity also must remain at least 400 feet from the reef runway.
Q: Some concern has been expressed about the safety of mailed Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. What can be done to assure that the benefits letters received via U.S. mail are safe?
A: First of all, you will receive your scheduled Social Security or SSI benefits, said Larry Massanari, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The agency said it is doing everything possible to make sure service is as dependable and safe as it has always been. However, beneficiaries with overriding concerns about the safety of their mailed checks are urged to sign up for direct deposit, in which payments are deposited automatically into the recipient's bank account and are available for immediate use. To sign up for direct deposit, or for more information, call the agency toll-free at (800) 772-1213 or visit the nearest local Social Security office. Banks, savings and loans or credit unions also can help you sign up for direct deposit.
Q: I've heard that the Honolulu Fire Department has had to respond to many calls about suspicious packages and substances since the Sept. 11 attacks. How many times have the Hazmat teams responded to a call and have any turned up anthrax or other dangerous substance?
A: From Oct 12 to Oct. 29, the Fire Department had been sent to investigate 216 calls regarding suspicious packages. That number, said fire spokesman Capt. Richard Soo, eclipsed the previous record of 17 calls from Sept. 11 to Oct. 11 (also the highest for any 30-day period on record). None of the calls turned up any anthrax or other hazardous chemicals, he said.
Q: How does Gov. Ben Cayetano stay abreast of fast-breaking war and terrorism developments nationally and Hawai'i-specific security threats in this time of crisis?
A: The governor is in touch regularly with FBI, local police, Civil Defense and CINCPAC officials, a spokeswoman in his office said.
Q: Is it safe to go to the mall on Halloween? Readers have reported hearing that something big is supposed to happen.
A: This fear is based on a widely circulating e-mail that tells the story of a woman's Middle Eastern boyfriend, who disappeared in early September and warned her not to fly on Sept. 11 or go to the mall on Oct. 31. It plays on fears that Americans can expect further terror attacks. However, the FBI has investigated the source of this e-mail and said the alleged threat is not credible.
More information on debunking threats and hoaxes can be found on the FBI Web site.
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