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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.
A department spokesman said today (December 12) that the monthly average ovitrap index for November had dropped to 7.4%, from 13.7% in October.
The ovitrap indices reflect the prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
Among the 38 areas surveyed, 37 of them recorded positive Area Ovitrap Indices (AOI), ranging from 1.9% to 19.3%. But none of them had entered the alert zone of 20% to 40%.
The three areas with the highest AOIs were Cheung Sha Wan (19.3%), Diamond Hill (16.4%) and Chai Wan West (15.1%)
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The index for port areas also dropped from 0.8% in October to 0.5% in November.
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.
Travellers to Southeast Asia are also strongly advised to take precautionary measures when visiting areas infected by mosquito-transmitted diseases during the Christmas and New Year holidays:
* Wear trousers and long-sleeved tops;
* Use insect repellent on exposed parts of the body when going out; and
* Use mosquito screens or nets when the room is 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, and they should 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, December 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:17
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