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The Anti-Mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC) today (October 28) endorsed a four-pronged approach to contain the risk of mosquito-borne diseases to the community, a spokesman for the steering committee said.

These four strategically important elements were: (i) to step up publicity to prevent local residents contracting dengue fever overseas; (ii) to sustain anti-mosquito operations through the coming winter; (iii) stringent enforcement against mosquito infestation blackspots; and (iv) to enhance quality of mosquito control on the ground, the spokesman said.

The AMSC was formed last October to set strategies and directions for mosquito control following a spate of local dengue cases. Chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai, the committee comprises members from three bureaus and eight government departments.

At today's meeting, members reviewed the adequacy of existing anti-mosquito measures in light of the latest reports by the Department of Health (DH) and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on case findings and ovitrap survey results.

A representative of DH briefed the committee on the dengue fever situation in Hong Kong in 2003. As of yesterday, there were 43 imported and one local case. Last year, there were 24 imported and 20 local cases.

The committee noted with concern the record high number of imported cases this year.

"We must remain vigilant against overseas infections because they are possible sources of a local outbreak," a spokesman from the steering committee noted.

Members agreed to step up publicity on personal protection against mosquito bites while travelling abroad and to strengthen health education and anti-mosquito inspections at ports, public cargo loading areas, immigration control points and airports. DH would continue to work with the travel industry to disseminate dengue fever prevention messages to outbound travellers.

The committee observed there had been no further local cases identified by DH since October 6 when the first case was confirmed. Anti-mosquito operations have been stepped up at the patient's residence (Yuen Kong Tsuen) and workplace (Kwai Chung Container Terminal).

On vector monitoring, the enhanced surveillance system implemented by FEHD in January has provided objective intelligence on the extent of mosquito problems in different parts of Hong Kong. A Monthly Ovitrap Index (MOI) and 38 Area Ovitrap Indices (AOIs) were recorded and made known to the public on a monthly basis.

"The overall vector prevalence this year reflected some improvements when compared to the past three years. The MOI for the first three quarters of this year averages 11.5% whereas the mean for the corresponding periods in 2000-2002 is 19.1%," the AMSC spokesman said. (A comparative graph in pdf format is attached.)

Referring to the latest ovitrap survey results, the spokesman noted the locality-specific breeding indices showed great variation across surveyed areas.

The AOIs in Wan Chai, Sheung Wan, Yau Ma Tei and Tsuen Wan were all along on the low side. The high indices once detected in Ma Wan, Cheung Chau and Lo Wu were successfully suppressed within a short period of time. Persistently high AOIs were however recorded in Tin Shui Wai, Tai Po and Wong Tai Sin, underlining the need to redouble anti-mosquito efforts in these areas, the spokesman said.

An in-house ovitrap study completed by FEHD in September detected no breeding of Aedes aegypti, the principal vector for dengue fever, in 537 surveyed flats. Some 7.7% of these flats were found to have larva of Aedes albopictus.

The steering committee welcomed FEHD's plans to review the surveyed localities and to include new locations, eg Pat Heung, in the surveillance system. Members also endorsed the department's proposal to conduct another in-house study next year to gauge further the breeding of Aedine mosquitoes in living quarters.

Commenting on the latest reports of DH and FEHD, AMSC chairman Mrs Carrie Yau said: "Thanks to the intensified efforts of the community and government departments, we have achieved some results this year, notably the drop in average MOI and the lower number of local cases."

"The enhanced involvement of the private sector, the media and the general public in combating vector mosquito is also an encouraging development. Their continued support is central to the success of our anti-dengue battle.

"With growing global prevalence of dengue fever, our battle against the disease is necessarily a long-term one. In view of Hong Kong's proximity to and inter-connections with dengue-endemic countries, we must not slack off in guarding against the occurrence of a local outbreak here."

Recognising that Aedine-mosquitoes can survive in arid conditions, members agreed to sustain the wide-ranging anti-mosquito operations through the winter. The major operational targets set for the next four months were as follows:

* Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department would step anti-mosquito inspections for all hiking trails, barbecue and recreational sites in 23 country parks and clearance of flowerpots, containers and rubbish in morning walkers' activity areas;

* Education and Manpower Bureau to remind 78 schools identified as having mosquito problems to step up personal protection and vector control measures;

* Environment, Transport and Works Bureau would arrange regular application of pesticide/larvicidal oil to sumps/tanks in about 5,000 construction sites and catchpits in about 9,500 roadside slopes;

* FEHD would mount special mosquito control operations at 155 passenger and cargo/container terminals and 8,000 old tenement buildings and launch a new round of territory-wide anti-mosquito campaign in February 2004;

* In collaboration with district organisations, Home Affairs Department would conduct inspections and cleaning operations at rear lanes and other stagnant water blackspots in 18 districts;

* Housing Department would carry out weekly inspections at 150 housing estates and 25 construction sites under its charge to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds;

* Information Services Department would help sustain public alertness to mosquito problems through broadcast of TV/radio APIs throughout the dry season;

* Lands Department would conduct two rounds of grass cutting and rubbish clearance at about 300 identified blackspots and clear 10 illegal hillside cultivation black spots; and

* Leisure and Cultural Services Department would protect the public from mosquito bites by deploying around 80 mosquito trapping devices in popular outdoor venues.

The committee reaffirmed the need to resort to enforcement action where educational and advisory steps were proven incapable of eradicating identified mosquito problems in private premises.

"Premises owners/occupiers have a duty to protect themselves and their neighbours from the health hazards caused by mosquito breeding. Under section 27 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), anyone allowing the breeding of mosquitoes in his premises commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $25,000," the spokesman said.

In the first three quarters of this year, FEHD instituted 222 prosecutions against mosquito breeding and issued 507 warning letters against stagnant water accumulation in private premises.

The steering committee agreed that FEHD, supported by other departments, should target their enforcement resources at mosquito infestation blackspots close to human activity areas.

Among others, rural communities, abandoned private premises, construction sites and pig farms were identified as areas/venues warranting a close watch by the enforcement teams.

Members also agreed to review the effectiveness of anti-mosquito measures undertaken by in-house staff/private contractors in areas/places under their control.

"The quality of mosquito control work counts as much as the quantity of operations taken. We need to ensure that our resources committed to the anti-mosquito operations are put to the best use," the spokesman said.

"For the longer term, the Government will seek to improve the standard of practice of pest control operators through legislative amendments to the Pesticides Ordinance. Law drafting is under way and our plan is to introduce the amendment bill to the Legislative Council in the 2004-05 session."

Ends/Tuesday, October 28, 2003

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( Floor / Cantonese/ English )