DH announces latest situation on chikungunya fever and advises public not to visit Tsing Yi Nature Trails
******************************************************************************************
Regarding five local cases of CF who visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the CHP yesterday (December 8) held an interdepartmental meeting with representatives from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department, the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Lands Department, and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) to discuss ways to enhance anti-mosquito efforts in the area and safeguard public health.
The five local cases involve two males and three females aged between 49 and 67. The onset dates of their symptoms were between mid-November and December 2. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the activities of the five patients overlapped at the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and that some of them had reportedly been bitten by mosquitoes there. Among them, the latest case visited the trails on November 29.
Upon receiving notifications of the first case on November 20, the CHP immediately contacted the relevant departments to commence large-scale mosquito prevention and control operations in the vicinity of Tsing Yi. Subsequently, as the sample analysis of some cases have identical genetic sequences, the CHP considered the trails to be a higher-risk area. As early as November 23, the CHP appealed daily through various channels to individuals who had hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they developed relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373). In late November, the CHP also informed approximately 130 primary care doctors in Kwai Tsing District through the Primary Healthcare Commission. They were urged to closely monitor whether their patients had compatible symptoms and arrange blood tests for those concerned. The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch provides free testing services.
Specifically targeting the vicinity of Tsing Yi Nature Trails, various departments have adopted a series of measures:
- The FEHD has co-ordinated mosquito prevention and control efforts among relevant departments and stakeholders in their respective purviews through the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts. Tools such as large ultra-low volume foggers and robot dogs have been deployed to conduct more than 40 fogging operations to kill adult mosquitoes along the hiking trails, covering the entire trails and the perimeter. The FEHD has also eliminated about 600 potential mosquito breeding sites and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in 80 areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately and installed new mosquito traps. In addition, pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging the public to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD also visited nearby schools and childcare facilities to provide information and assistance on mosquito prevention and control. Furthermore, the FEHD has stepped up inspections of construction sites and residential premises near the trails, instituted two prosecutions against those responsible for violations related to mosquito breeding, and issued eight statutory notices for the elimination of stagnant water.
- The Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), which is responsible for the maintenance of the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, has instructed its contractor to enhance mosquito prevention and control measures, including grass cutting, clearing blockages in drainage, conducting fogging operations, and application of larvicide oil or larvicides. In addition, K&TDO has displayed posters at the entrances, pavilions and sitting-out areas along the trails to remind visitors and hikers to use insect repellents and take protective measures. K&TDO also continuously disseminates information on mosquito prevention to residents in the district through the local networks of the District Council Members, Area Committees, and Care Teams.
- Since the end of November, the DSD has carried out a number of drainage cleaning operations in the vicinity of the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, removing silt and debris from drainage facilities to ensure the system is functioning and prevent stagnant water and mosquito breeding.
- The District Lands Office of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing has removed illegal cultivations, metal canopies, and bamboo sticks on relevant government land. The CEDD has requested contractors and site supervisory staff to arrange site inspections, including its surrounding areas, to ensure that the mosquito prevention measures taken are as effective as possible. Regarding mosquito prevention and control measures, these include conducting regular inspections, removing stagnant water, applying larvicidal oil, and setting up mosquito traps on-site with regular checks and replacement of baits.
Although relevant departments have conducted a series of mosquito prevention and control operations in the past two to three weeks, there are still members of the public who have been infected after visiting the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, indicating that the risk of infection in the relevant area remains. The Tsing Yi Nature Trails are situated in a countryside environment and cover a vast area, with the hiking trails stretching approximately 7 000 metres. Compared with urban settings, mosquito control work there faces greater challenges. Along both sides of the trails, there are various natural breeding grounds for vectors, including puddles on soil surfaces and fallen leaves, which increase the risk of mosquito breeding.
After discussion yesterday, various departments have further confirmed measures to strengthen mosquito prevention and control in the vicinity of the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Considering that more intensive anti-mosquito operations will be conducted there, the Tsing Yi Nature Trails will be temporarily closed to the public until further notice. During the period, the FEHD, together with other departments, will further strengthen the intensity and frequency of mosquito prevention and control measures along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, including continued fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes.
The CHP will send letters to doctors again and urge them to pay attention to patients' conditions. In case patients present with relevant symptoms such as fever, joint pain and rash, doctors shall arrange relevant testing as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, regarding the recently announced local case involving a 23-year-old female living in Sheung Wan, the epidemiological investigation is ongoing. The CHP continues to urge members of the public residing and working at Queen's Road West (near Morrison Street and Hollywood Road) who experienced a fever, rash or joint pain on or after November 15 to seek medical advice or contact the CHP immediately. CHP officers continue to reach out to individuals in the aforementioned locations to remind individuals to be aware of relevant symptoms and to maintain good environmental hygiene in their households.
As of 5pm today, the CHP has conducted assessments for over 2 700 individuals residing or working in the district through the health consultation booth at the main entrance of the Sheung Wan Civic Centre, its enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), questionnaire surveys and door-to-door visits. No new symptomatic persons have been identified in the past four days. Two individuals with mild symptoms previously have been arranged to undergo blood tests. All tested negative for the chikungunya virus.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.
Ends/Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:50
Issued at HKT 18:50
NNNN