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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 19) announced results of the one-year survey, launched in October last year, on the distribution of Japanese encephalitis (JE) vectors in Hong Kong.
The department's Consultant (Community Medicine), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said that according to the survey findings, one of the JE vectors, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, was commonly found in the territory.
ˇ§Adults and/or larvae Culex tritaeniorhynchus were collected in all the districts, including rural and urban areas,ˇ¨ he said.
But other potential vectors, such as Culex fuscocephala, Culex gelidus and Culex vishnui, were not detected in the survey.
ˇ§Despite the wide availability of Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the detection of JE virus is not common.
ˇ§Among the some 8,100 adult Culex tritaeniorhynchus collected, which were divided into about 180 batches for laboratory tests, only five batches were found positive for the JE virus,ˇ¨ Dr Ho said.
He pointed out that the five batches were all collected in Yuen Long, including Tseung Kong Wai, Tam Kon Chau, Yuen Long Park and Shek Wu Wai, where pig farms and migratory birds were commonly found.
ˇ§Positive results are not unexpected as JE is endemic among local pigs. Mosquitoes may acquire the virus from birds and pigs which are known hosts of the disease.
ˇ§The survey results show that areas close to the vicinity of pig farms are of relatively higher risk of local JE transmission.ˇ¨
But Dr Ho assured people that there was no cause for undue alarm. No parts of Hong Kong are considered to be high risk areas for the transmission of JE.
He said government departments regularly joined efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding places and the FEHD conducted anti-mosquito operations around pig farms on a weekly basis.
Dr Ho pointed out that Culex tritaeniorhynchus mainly bred in water-logged fields, marshes, ditches and small stable collections of water around cultivated fields.
ˇ§As long as people remain alert and take sustained efforts against mosquito breeding, the chances of getting JE infection can be significantly reduced.ˇ¨
Dr Ho advised people to take the following preventive measures:
* ensure continuous water flow of water-logged fields by installing devices such as water pumps/water gates and removing stagnant water regularly;
*inspect water-cultivation areas and animal farms frequently;
*eliminate stagnant water in surface channels; and
*remove containers properly after use.
He also reminded people visiting areas with mosquito-transmitted diseases to observe the following precautionary measures:
*wear long-sleeved clothes and trousers;
*use insect repellents over exposed parts of the body when staying outdoors; and
*use mosquito screens or nets when the room is not air-conditioned.
Ends/Monday, December 19, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:30
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