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In response to media enquiries, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 23) that thorough investigation was being conducted on a complaint that the ovitraps, a device for monitoring prevalence of dengue fever vectors, were tampered with.
The department received the complaint earlier this week from a staff member of the pest control contractor and investigation headed by the department's Deputy Director was launched immediately. The complainant was contacted for more information to facilitate investigation.
The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Eddy Chan, said it was totally unacceptable if the ovitraps were tampered with as that might affect the disease vectors monitoring programme and he directed a thorough investigation.
"If staff members of the department were found to be involved in the malpractice, disciplinary actions by the department will be taken," he stressed.
The FEHD Headquarters has issued a reminder to all staff members and contractor's workers concerned of the significance of the dengue vector surveillance programme and any discovery of tampered ovitraps should be reported to their senior officers immediately for follow-up actions.
The FEHD Headquarters has also reminded the contractor concerned to strictly follow all the requirements of the contract in performing pest control work. Any instruction to deviate from the requirements should be reported to the Headquarters immediately.
A review is being conducted at locations where substantial drop in ovitrap indices were found in recent months, especially those with zero readings recorded. The district staff are also asked to review the situation taking into consideration anti-mosquito operations that have been carried out in the areas.
New ovitraps will be placed if accuracy of the results is in doubt. Enhanced pest control work will be conducted in the affected areas if needed.
The FEHD placed ovitraps at 38 locations in selected areas of the territory under its dengue fever vector surveillance programme and monitors the situation on a monthly basis.
The department reiterated that the ovitrap was only one of the useful means in monitoring the prevalence of the disease vectors. Staff of the department, in their daily patrol in districts, will closely monitor the mosquito infestation situation and follow up complaints about mosquito nuisances by residents, before mapping out an anti-mosquito action plan in the districts.
Ends/Saturday, September 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:23
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