Hong Kong – FEHD executes multi-pronged mosquito control procedures and advises public alertness versus chikungunya fever (with images)

In reaction to the current rise in chikungunya fever cases reported in neighbouring areas and some abroad nations, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actually stepped up mosquito avoidance and control efforts through a multi-pronged technique. The FEHD likewise interest members of the general public to enhance anti-mosquito procedures. The FEHD and the Department of Health will fulfill and work together with the stakeholders from the residential or commercial property management sector to improve mosquito control work.

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne illness. To secure public health, the FEHD is executing the following steps:

• Assembling conferences of the inter-departmental job forces on anti-mosquito work throughout districts. Members of the job force consist of appropriate departments and stakeholders. Targeted and sustained mosquito control actions will be performed at areas with greater mosquito invasion threats, based upon the most recent Gravidtrap Index for Aedes albopictus
• Working together with departments such as the Housing Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to enhance examinations in public locations, public real estate estates and parks. Upon detection of mosquito reproducing premises, instant actions will be taken, consisting of performing misting operations to get rid of adult mosquitoes, elimination of stagnant water and water-holding containers, application of larvicides (e.g. temephos sand granules), and setup of mosquito traps;
• Enhancing assessments at building and construction websites, workspace and personal homes. Enforcement actions will be taken versus offenses including mosquito breeding;
• Issuing letters and arranging workshops for residential or commercial property management business and organisations to distribute the current info on chikungunya fever and mosquito avoidance. The FEHD likewise welcomes the Housing Department and residential or commercial property management business to carry out mosquito control projects in real estate estates and motivates resident involvement;
• Dealing with the District Offices to help in mosquito avoidance and control at places with problem problems, such as “three-nil” structures; and
• Reinforcing public education and promotion through marketing videos, posters and brochures to advise the general public to embrace mosquito control steps. The FEHD will likewise boost dissemination of the Area Gravidtrap Index for Aedes albopictus to raise awareness in districts with greater readings.

Public involvement is vital in addition to the federal government and the trade’s efforts. Members of the general public are advised to continue signing up with hands in taking mosquito avoidance and control steps in the house and other locations immediately. The procedures consist of:

• Keep the environment tidy by getting rid of rubbish correctly. Decline like empty cans and food containers where water can collect quickly need to be dealt with in covered litter containers;
• Tidy the dishes under potted plants weekly and avoid water build-up;
• Modification the water in vases and scrub their internal surface area weekly;
• Keep water-storage containers, such as containers and basins, firmly covered; and
• Examine umbrella stands, umbrella tubes and air-conditioner drip trays to avoid any water build-up.

The FEHD likewise encourages members of the general public and home management business to keep drains pipes without clog and level all faulty ground surface areas to avoid the water build-up. They must likewise scrub all drains pipes and surface area drains with alkaline cleaning agents a minimum of when a week to eliminate any mosquito eggs.

The general public needs to call 1823 in case of mosquito issues and might check out the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic web page: www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/109029.html to find out more on chikungunya fever.