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With the approach of the Lunar New Year, people are urged to continue the battle against mosquito breeding to prevent mosquito-transmitted diseases.
Revealing the latest ovitrap indices today (January 10), the Consultant (Community Medicine) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said people should take mosquito prevention and control measures during their year-end clean-up exercise.
He said that the monthly average ovitrap index (MOI) had dropped from 1.3% in November to 0.2% in December last year.
The ovitrap indices reflect the prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
At the district level, of the 38 locations surveyed last month, all the indices were well below the action level of 20%. Positive ovitrap indices, ranging from 1.9% to 4%, were only recorded in three areas, with the highest being reported in Kwai Chung.
The index for port areas also dropped from 0.4% in November to 0.1 % in December last year.
"Although local Aedes mosquitoes are rather inactive at the moment, our preventive measures should not be relaxed as the risk of dengue fever still exists. Dengue cases are still being reported in neighbouring countries," Dr Ho said.
Though the current weather was dry and cool, he said people should still take effective measures to eliminate mosquito eggs as mosquitoes could hatch from eggs when the weather turned warm and wet again.
Keeping homes and the surroundings clean was the most effective way to prevent mosquito breeding, he stressed.
"When people are doing their clean-up before the Lunar New Year, they should pay particular attention to small containers such as vases, saucers, trays and damp surfaces in depressions.
"People are used to decorating their homes with vases of flowers and pots of tangerines during the Lunar New Year. They should change water for plants at least once a week and leave no water in the saucers underneath the pots.
"Estate managements should scrub all drains and surface sewers and limewash them with alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs. They should also keep the drains free from blockages and fill in all depressions to prevent hatching of eggs."
Travellers to Southeast Asia are also strongly advised to take precautionary measures when visiting areas infected by mosquito-transmitted diseases during the Lunar New Year holidays:
* Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and long trousers;
* Use insect repellent on exposed parts of the body;
* Use mosquito screens or nets when staying in rooms that are not air-conditioned.
Travellers coming back from these places are advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible if they have symptoms including high fever, severe headache or muscle and joint pain. They should also inform the doctor of their travel history.
The ovitrap indices and information on anti-mosquito measures are available on the department's website (www.fehd.gov.hk) and through its hotline at 2868 0000.
People can also obtain information and health advice on dengue fever from the website (www.chp.gov.hk) of the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection and its hotline at 2833 0111.
Ends/Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:40
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