NOTE: In the above video, the footage of vector control in South Kona was taken in 2015.

(BIVN) – Exactly two years ago this month, state health officials confirmed two cases of “locally-acquired” dengue fever on the Big Island.

Hawaii County closed the identified hotspot for the mosquito-borne illness, Ho’okena Beach Park, but not before it spread to other parts of South Kona and, eventually, the entire island.

County, state and federal officials came together to craft a response. Hawaii County Civil Defense took the lead. A state of emergency was proclaimed, although not as quickly as residents would have liked. A debate ensued over the way information was being shared with residents and visitors, as health officials tried to balance the public’s right-to-know with patient privacy.

Vector control stepped-up the spraying. Eventually, the island got a handle on the situation, thanks in part to its “Fight The Bite” campaign which urged residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites, stopping the spread of the disease. And as the threat of dengue fever diminished on the Big Island, global fears began to increase over the spread of the Zika virus, another disease spread by the same species of mosquito. Luckily, Zika had not found its way to Hawaii Island.

By the time the dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island ended, over 260 cases were reported.

Sherry Bracken recently interviewed Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Talmadge Magno. She inquired about recent vector control operations in Kona that raised concerns of a repeat of the events that began in October 2015. Here is a transcript of the exchange: