Public urged to keep up anti-mosquito efforts
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Among the 64 survey areas, the area gravidtrap index in six areas (namely Sai Kung Town, Ngau Liu and Muk Min Shan, Tuen Mun West, So Kwun Wat, Tsuen Wan West and Lai King) exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly found in the vicinity of public and private residential areas, schools, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments and taken immediate action to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the above-mentioned areas.
Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in April was 1.3, which represented that an average of 1.3 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department's website at www.fehd.gov.hk.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, "As summer is approaching, the FEHD reminds members of the public to carry out effective prevention and control measures against mosquitoes early as mosquitoes breed quickly in the hot and rainy weather. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue to intensify their mosquito prevention and control work covering areas under their purview and strengthen publicity and education. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work. At the same time, members of the public are reminded to continue the routine mosquito prevention and control work, and arrange early repair and maintenance of structures. Cracks and dents which may accumulate water and become potential breeding grounds shall be filled and levelled so as to reduce the chance of mosquito breeding."
The FEHD will conduct the three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign, lasting nine weeks, has been launched on April 17 and will run until June 16. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, to remove accumulated water and carry out mosquito prevention and control work. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have also carried out the second phase of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations since April 24 to focus on eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, and called on property management offices to arrange necessary repairs to their premises so as to minimise mosquito breeding places. Furthermore, intense adult control has been conducted by means of regular ultra-low volume fogging operations after the onset of the rainy season.
The FEHD appeals to members of the public to work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) as well as Zika virus infection. DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high and Hong Kong has recorded nine imported DF cases so far this year. Members of the public should stay vigilant and continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.
Ends/Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:00
Issued at HKT 17:00
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