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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has urged people to stay alert to the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases and to maintain proper anti-mosquito measures, despite the current dry weather.
Announcing the ovitrap indices for January, the department's Consultant (Community Medicine), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said today (February 10) that the monthly ovitrap index had dropped from 0.2% in December last year to 0.1% in January.
The ovitrap indices reflect the prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
At the district level, almost all the 38 locations surveyed last month recorded zero ovitrap indices. The only exception was Wong Tai Sin Central where the ovitrap index was 1.7%.
The index for port areas also dropped from 0.1% in December last year to 0% in January.
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"Although the figures suggest that the activity of Aedes albopictus is low, our preventive measures should not be relaxed as dengue cases are reported in our neighbouring countries," Dr Ho said.
Though the current weather was dry and cool, he said mosquitoes were ready to hatch from eggs once the weather turned warm and wet again.
"People should therefore take effective control measures to eliminate mosquito eggs so as to prevent their proliferation in spring," he added.
Dr Ho advised people to take the following measures to eliminate mosquito eggs:
* Check for the eggs in drainage systems and small containers, such as vases, saucers and trays under air-conditioning units;
* The edges and sides of water containers, vases and saucers should be scrubbed and cleaned with household detergent at least once a week;
* Keep all drains free from blockages. Drains and surface sewers should be scrubbed and limewashed with alkaline detergent compound at least once a week; and
* Fill in all depressions to prevent harbouring of eggs.
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/Friday, February 10, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:16
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