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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has urged people to stay alert to the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases and maintain proper anti-mosquito measures, despite the current dry and cool weather.
A department spokesman said today (January 22) that the monthly average ovitrap index for December last year had dropped to 2.3%, from 7.4% in November.
The ovitrap indices reflect the prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
Among the 38 areas surveyed, 23 of them recorded positive Area Ovitrap Indices (AOI), ranging from 1.8% to 8%, with the highest being reported in Yuen Kong. But none of them had entered the alert zone of 20% to 40%.
The index for port areas also dropped from 0.5% in November to 0.2% in December last year.
Although the current weather was dry and cool, the spokesman 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.
He advised estate managements to 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 breeding of mosquito.
The spokesman appealed to people to take heed of the following anti-mosquito measures: inspect their homes and surroundings weekly to remove potential breeding grounds; scrub vases and pot plant saucers at least once a week; properly dispose of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes; clear drains and surface channels to prevent blockage; remove stagnant water; fill up all defective ground surfaces and drill large holes in unused tyres.
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/Monday, January 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:32
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