Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has declared a State of Emergency to assist the Department of Public Health prevent a dengue outbreak on Guam.

The governor made the declaration via an executive order she signed on Friday, September 13th. It was last Thursday DPHSS announced to the public of a locally confirmed case of dengue fever. KUAM learned of the emergency declaration because a copy of the executive order was posted on the legislature’s website on Monday.

The emergency declaration will allow the governor to immediately purchase and spend up to $250,000 for emergency supplies to assist Public Health prevent a dengue outbreak.

This is the first time in 75 years Guam has had a confirmed local case of the illness. There is currently an outbreak of dengue fever in Palau, Marshall Islands, Yap, and the Philippines.