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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to spare no effort in the control and prevention of mosquito breeding and in particular with the recent threat of Dengue fever.
FEHD staff has started from today (September 25) inspections at densely populated areas like housing estates, schools and hospitals following the completion of a blitz inspection on construction sites.
A spokesman for FEHD said:"Warnings will be given for irregularities found in these three specific areas for rectifications.
"Prosecutions will be given afterwards if irregularities remain,"he added.
Rounding up the past two days' blitz operations at construction sites, the spokesman said FEHD staff had visited and inspected a total of 575 construction sites throughout the territory, resulting in 86 prosecutions and 36 warnings issued against mosquito breeding.
Two seminars specially tailored for construction site management are held on September 25 and 26.
The spokesman said:"The enhanced operations have successfully aroused public awareness, in particular management of construction sites, of the importance of mosquito prevention.
"We will revisit the sites next week to ensure that proper vector prevention and control measures are in place,"he stressed.
"Continued control measures on mosquitoes will be implemented on Ma Wan area to contain the outbreak."
To further complement the Department's anti-mosquito efforts is a series of public education programmes launched with an objective to solicit public participation in guarding against mosquito breeding and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
A thematic exhibition on mosquito prevention and control is being held at FEHD's Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre at Block S4, Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui. Related topical roving exhibitions will also be staged at three public housing estate shopping centres namely Wong Tai Sin Shopping Centre, Long Ping Estate and Lei Tung Estate.
In addition, talks and seminars will be organised for different target groups to drive home the message.
The spokesman stressed that the proliferation of mosquitoes could only be effectively put under control should the public strictly observe anti-mosquito measures. These include:
* dispose of used containers and bottles properly;
* clear stagnant water in their homes and surrounding areas;
* change water for flowers and plants at least once a week;
* remove water in vases and saucers underneath flower pots;
* cover all water containers tightly;
* top up all defective ground surfaces to avoid accumulation of stagnant water; and
* disused tyres as anti-bumping device in car parks should be replaced by markings on the floor; if tyres are used, they should be properly wrapped by plastic bags or large holes must be made on the tyres.
"There is no excuse for not taking the measures that are simple and easy to follow," the spokesman said.
"Hong Kong can stay away from the threat of mosquito-borne diseases only when the community at large proactively takes heed of vector-control measures."
End/Wednesday, September 25, 2002
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