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¡@¡@The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department urged the public to stay alert to the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases and to maintain proper anti-mosquito measures, despite the current dry weather.
¡@¡@Announcing the ovitrap indices for November, the department's Consultant (Community Medicine), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said today (December 8) that the monthly average ovitrap index (MOI) had dropped from 2.7% in October to 1.3% in November.
¡@¡@The ovitrap indices reflect the prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission.
¡@¡@At the district level, of the 38 locations surveyed last month, 16 areas recorded positive ovitrap indices ranging from 1.9% to 4.9%. The highest index was recorded at Sham Shui Po East (4.9%). All the indices were well below the action level of 20%.
¡@¡@The index for port areas also dropped from 1.3% in October to 0.4% in November.
¡@¡@"Although the figures show improvement, our preventive measures should not be relaxed as the risk of dengue fever still exists. Dengue cases are still reported in our neighbouring countries," Dr Ho said.
¡@¡@Though the current weather was dry and cool, mosquitoes could hatch from eggs when the weather turned warm and wet again, Dr Ho said.
¡@¡@"The public should therefore take effective preventive and control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs to prevent their proliferation in spring," he added.
¡@¡@Dr Ho advised the public to take the following measures to eliminate mosquito eggs:
* Check for the eggs in drainage systems and small containers, such as vases, saucers and trays under air-conditioning units;
* The edges and sides of water containers, vases and saucers should be scrubbed and cleaned with household detergent at least once a week;
* Keep all drains free from blockages. Drains and surface sewers should be scrubbed and limewashed with alkaline detergent compound at least once a week; and
* Fill in all depressions to prevent harbouring of eggs.
¡@¡@Travellers to Southeast Asia are also strongly advised to take precautionary measures when visiting areas infected by mosquito-transmitted diseases during the Christmas and New Year holidays :
* Wear trousers and long-sleeved tops;
* Use insect repellent on exposed parts of the body when going out; and
* Use mosquito screens or nets when the room is not air-conditioned.
Travellers coming back from these places are advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible if they have symptoms including high fever, severe headache or muscle and joint pain, and they should inform the doctor of their travel history.
¡@¡@The ovitrap indices and information on anti-mosquito measures are available on the department's website (www.fehd.gov.hk) and through its hotline at 2868 0000.
¡@¡@People can also obtain information and health advice on dengue fever from the website (www.chp.gov.hk) of the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection and its hotline at 2833 0111.
Ends/Thursday, December 8, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:53
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