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The Anti-Mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC), which comprises various bureaux and departments, held a special meeting today (November 11) to discuss ways to review the new rounds of anti-mosquito work conducted by relevant departments in response to the recent confirmation of three local cases of dengue fever (DF), and examine how to step up preventive actions.
The Chairperson of the AMSC cum Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai, said at the meeting that, in view of the recent confirmation of three local cases of DF, and the fact that the number of DF cases in neighbouring areas continues to stay at a high level, the community must remain vigilant. The Government and the community must work together in conducting anti-mosquito work.
In response to the confirmation of the three local cases, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has strengthened the mosquito preventive and control work in the areas within 500 metres from the residence of the patients in Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin and Tsing Yi, their workplaces, as well as areas they have visited during the incubation period. FEHD has initiated prosecution against five parties responsible for managing the venues in which the breeding of mosquito larvae was found. Three of them are the contractors of construction sites appointed by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) and Housing Department respectively. The other two are the management companies of public housing estates. FEHD also convened meetings with the inter-departmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to discuss measures to strengthen mosquito prevention and control at the district level. FEHD staff have given health talks and distributed health education and promotion leaflets to schools and hospitals nearby. An outdoor broadcasting van has been deployed to the relevant areas in Central and Western, Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin and Tsing Yi to alert the people and advise them of the importance of taking mosquito prevention and control measures.
FEHD has also strengthened the mosquito prevention and control work in areas in the vicinity of the MTRCL construction sites for the Sai Ying Pun Station where the patients of the first two confirmed cases have worked. FEHD has appealed for support from the MTRCL to strengthen their mosquito prevention and control work at their construction sites, and to disseminate the messages of mosquito prevention and control to their appointed contractors and site supervisors.
FEHD has collected samples of Aedes albopictus from the areas relevant to the three confirmed cases for laboratory testing to ascertain whether they carry virus. This will help eliminate the sources of infection.
The territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operation which commenced on October 20 will be extended throughout the winter season and last till January 23, 2015. Mosquito control work will also be enhanced during the year-end clean-up operation which is due to commence on January 26, 2015. The district offices of FEHD will target areas which have drawn particular concerns, such as single-block buildings, village houses, large residential estates, construction sites and cargo/container terminals and handling areas at port areas and intensify mosquito prevention and control work thereat.
Other departments have also continued to intensify their mosquito preventive and control work, as well as strengthening publicity and education campaigns.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has strengthened mosquito prevention work and promotion activities in the venues and facilities under its management including recreational sites in country parks, Hong Kong Wetland Park and all government wholesale markets, etc. The department has also urged livestock and fish farmers to enhance anti-mosquito measures.
The Department of Health has enhanced the surveillance of DF and will carry out prompt investigation and control measures for cases of DF. The department has also implemented a series of measures at boundary control points to prevent importation of DF into Hong Kong and strengthened its publicity campaign to remind the public to take precautionary measures against mosquito-transmitted diseases.
The Housing Department will continue to carry out their mosquito preventive and control work and step up publicity through posters, notices and leaflets on mosquito prevention in public housing estates.
The Development Bureau has reminded site staff of public works sites to ensure that the well-established anti-mosquito measures are duly undertaken.
The Lands Department will continue to conduct grass cutting regularly on government land under its responsibility and clear identified hillside illegal cultivation black spots to eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds. With regard to the three DF confirmed local cases, the department plans to conduct additional grass cutting work in November and December. Letters have also been sent out to request short-term tenants to prevent and control mosquito breeding.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will continue to step up inspection, strengthen vector prevention and control, carry out anti-mosquito and cleansing operations, conduct roving exhibitions on the control and prevention of mosquito-borne diseases and DF, install mosquito trapping devices, display and distribute anti-mosquito publicity materials and step up enforcement action against littering offenders at its venues.
The Education Bureau has jointly organised with FEHD a talk on DF vectors for school personnel. Schools were recently reminded again to keep the school and the surrounding environment clean.
The District Offices of Home Affairs Department will assist in the publicity for mosquito prevention and control, including distributing anti-mosquito promotional leaflets and items, as well as facilitating the organisation of health talks.
The Government Property Agency has tasked its property management agents to continue to take appropriate anti-mosquito measures, including strengthening inspection work, promptly removing stagnant water, regularly cutting grass and applying larvicidal oil, and increasing the frequency of the work, as well as stepping up the publicity for mosquito prevention and control.
Mrs Lai pointed out that all relevant government departments would work together and stay vigilant in eliminating the potential breeding places of mosquitoes. She added that the Government would closely monitor the effectiveness of the measures and make timely adjustment if necessary, so as to better control the mosquito problem and minimise the threat of DF and other mosquito-transmitted diseases. She also appealed for support from members of the public to act in concert with the Government in taking appropriate anti-mosquito measures.
Ends/Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:16
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