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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has urged people to step up anti-mosquito efforts to guard against dengue fever amid the current rainy season.
¡@¡@ The department's Consultant (Community Medicine), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said today (July 27) the surveillance programme on prevalence of Aedes albopictus, a mosquito vector for dengue fever transmission, found that 17 out of 20 areas surveyed so far returned with positive Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) in July.
¡@¡@¡§But only three of the AOIs were over 10%. They were Tai Po North (18.5%), Diamond Hill (14%) and Fanling (11.8%).
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¡@¡@¡§Indices for the other 14 areas ranged from 1.9% to 7.8%,¡¨ Dr Ho said.
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While results for the remaining 18 areas were still pending, Dr Ho reminded people to stay alert to mosquito breeding under the current rainy weather.
He appealed to the public to take heed of the following anti-mosquito measures: inspect their homes and surroundings weekly to remove potential breeding grounds; scrub vases and pot plant saucers at least once a week; properly dispose of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes; clear drains and surface channels to prevent blockage; remove stagnant water; fill up all defective ground surfaces and drill large holes in unused tyres.
Dr Ho also advised travellers to Southeast Asia to take precautionary measures when visiting areas infected by mosquito-transmitted diseases:
* Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and long trousers;
* Use insect repellent on exposed parts of the body;
* Use mosquito screens or nets when staying in rooms that are 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. They should also 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, July 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:26
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