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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reminds the public to continue their anti-mosquito efforts during the current high-risk rainy season.
Announcing the ovitrap indices collected last month, the department's Consultant (Community Medicine) (Risk Assessment and Communication), Dr Ho Yuk-yin urged the public to stay alert to the threat of dengue fever. The indices reflect the prevalence of aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
Dr Ho revealed that the monthly ovitrap index for June was 16.8%, slightly lower than the 17.1% in May, but compared favourably with the 35.6% for the same month last year.
On the district level, he said area ovitrap indices recorded in 11 locations throughout Hong Kong last month, compared with 15 locations in May, were higher than 20%.
"Although the indices for Cheung Chau and Tin Shui Wai have exceeded 40%, among those locations with indices above 20% in May, the figures for Wong Tai Sin, Fanling, Kwai Chung, Lek Yuen, Tsing Yi and Sheung Shui have dropped to below 20% over the month. However, there should be no room for complacency as the situation may worsen quickly if not properly attended to.
"The improvement achieved so far this year was due partly to the joint efforts put into the anti-mosquito campaign by both the community and the Government," he said.
"As we are in the middle of the rainy season, there is still a chance that the figures may rise in the next couple of months," he warned.
"People should therefore continue to keep up their anti-mosquito efforts and follow the mosquito prevention measures recommended in the "Weekly Mosquito Inspection Programme" prepared by the department.
"These measures include scrubbing vases and pot plant saucers at least once a week, proper disposal of containers such as soft drink cans or lunch boxes, clearing air conditioner drip trays regularly to ensure they are free of stagnant water and drilling large holes in old tyres."
Dr Ho stressed that the Government would spare no effort in implementing its anti-mosquito measures, including stepped-up inspection and enforcement action. Special task forces have already been set up in Cheung Chau and Tin Shui Wai in a bid to lower the ovitrap indices.
During the first six months of this year, the department treated 21,287 mosquito-breeding places, took out 150 prosecutions and issued 343 written warnings.
"The department will deploy additional mosquito control teams to tackle mosquito breeding black spots and potential breeding places at rear lanes, construction/vacant sites, hilly areas, streams, passenger and cargo handling areas, public cemeteries and common parts of tenement buildings in the next few months," Dr Ho said.
"In addition, weekly inspections are being conducted at abandoned fish ponds near the Lok Ma Chau Border Crossing and areas around pig farms to prevent mosquito breeding as part of the measures against Japanese encephalitis."
Dr Ho called on the public to support the Government in its efforts to tackle the mosquito problem. He also reminded them of the importance of observing the anti-mosquito campaign slogan - "Eliminate stagnant water. Halt mosquito breeding".
Ovitrap indices and advice on anti-mosquito measures are available on the department's website www.fehd.gov.hk or on the hotline 2868 0000.
End/Thursday, July 10, 2003
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