EEB consults with trade agents on the most recent circumstance of chikungunya fever (with images)
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The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) today (August 1) met trade agents on mosquito and bug control matters, to show them the most recent scenario of chikungunya fever (CF) and associated counter procedures and to reinforce co-operation amongst the Government, companies and the neighborhood while motivating different sectors to continue to embrace efficient mosquito avoidance and control procedures so regarding secure public health.
The EEB has actually the whole time been worried about the current circumstance of CF and pertinent preventive and control procedures. The EEB has actually been teaming up with numerous federal government bureaux and departments and stakeholders of various trades to actively follow-up on mosquito avoidance and control work. Today, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, Assistant Director (Operations) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) Mr Peter Poon and agents from associated departments went to Po Lam Estate, Po Tsui Park and their neighboring locations in Tseung Kwan O before the conference, to check the improved efforts to avoid CF in the neighborhood.
The study location checked today taped gravidtrap indices reaching Level 3 alert level in May this year, suggesting comprehensive circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The FEHD has actually been working together with appropriate departments and stakeholders to constantly enhance mosquito avoidance and control operate in locations under their province, consisting of removing mosquito breeding locations, using larvicides, performing misting operations to get rid of adult mosquitoes, and guaranteeing that mosquito trapping gadgets at proper places are running effectively. The gravidtrap indices for this study location in June and July have actually dropped to Level 2.
The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, together with agents from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and the FEHD, fulfilled trade agents this afternoon to inform them the current circumstance of CF, the present circumstance in locations outside Hong Kong, cooperation on illness avoidance and control in between the Mainland and Hong Kong, in addition to threat evaluation of Hong Kong, control steps at limit control points, emergency situation readiness, promotion and education efforts, and so on.
The agent of the FEHD reported to the conference the most upgraded circumstance of gravidtrap indices. As at July this year, the gravidtrap indices for Aedes albopictus in June was 9.5 percent, which was lower than the exact same duration in 2023 and 2024 (16.4 percent and 14.0 percent respectively), with the general circumstance stayed at a fairly low level. From January 1 to July 31 this year, the gravidtrap indices in 7 surveyed locations were greater than 20 percent, reaching Level 3 alert level, suggesting substantial circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Based upon the current gravidtrap Index for Aedes albopictus, the FEHD, together with appropriate federal government departments and stakeholders, has actually carried out targeted mosquito avoidance and control steps. They continually reinforce efforts under their province, mainly concentrating on ecological management to minimize mosquito reproducing websites, supplemented by biological and chemical approaches to eliminate mosquito larvae or adult, along with getting rid of adult mosquitoes in their environments (such as thick bushes) by performing misting operations. The FEHD likewise supplies technical recommendations and assistance to lower the variety of Aedes albopictus in largely inhabited locations, therefore decreasing the threat of illness sent by these mosquitoes. The gravidtrap indices in the 7 surveyed locations have actually likewise revealed a decrease.
To avoid the spread of CF, the FEHD has actively executing the following mosquito control procedures:
- Assembling unique conferences of the inter-departmental job forces on anti-mosquito work throughout districts to co-ordinate frontline departments and stakeholders to reinforce mosquito control, and to designate resources to perform targeted and sustained mosquito control actions based upon the gravidtrap index and places with greater threats;
- Enhancing evaluations at building websites, workspace and personal houses. Enforcement actions will be taken versus offenses including mosquito breeding;
- Working together with departments such as the Housing Department (HD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to reinforce assessments in public locations, public real estate estates and parks. Upon detection of mosquito reproducing premises, instant actions will be taken;
- Welcoming the HD and residential or commercial property management business to perform 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 invasion concerns, such as “three-nil” structures;
- Issuing letters to the home management and bug control market to advise them the execution of mosquito avoidance and control steps, and arranging workshops to distribute the most recent details on CF and mosquito avoidance;
- Reinforcing public education and promotion through advertising videos, posters and brochures to advise the general public to embrace mosquito control procedures; and
- Enhancing dissemination of the Area Gravidtrap Index for Aedes albopictus to raise awareness amongst people in districts with greater readings.
In addition to the intro of efficient mosquito avoidance and control steps by the FEHD, Link and the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association likewise shared experience on mosquito avoidance by slideshows. Individuals will continue to encourage their members and personnel to improve mosquito avoidance and control procedures after the conference, in addition to show the Government’s promotion and education products at their locations.
Agents from various sectors (consisting of markets/licensed hawkers, residential or commercial property management, catering, building, hotels and outdoor camping) provided mosquito avoidance and control procedures in the conference, and revealed they will share the pertinent info with other stakeholders.
The efficiency of mosquito control counts on the collective efforts and active involvement of stakeholders from different sectors, consisting of bug control operators in both public and economic sectors, location management and the public. The Government will continue to work together with stakeholders and the market to avoid CF.
The conference, chaired by Miss Wong, was gone to by agents from 18 organisations or organizations, consisting of:
(a) stakeholders taking part frequently: The Hong Kong Housing Society, Link, People’s Place, the Hong Kong Property Services Alliance, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Hong Kong Association of Property Services Agents, the Hong Kong Institute of Housing, the Pest Control Personnel Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Pest Management Association, the Federation of Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories Hawker Associations, the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, the Institute of Dining Professionals, the Association of Restaurant Managers, the Hong Kong Japanese Food and Cuisine Association, the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association; and
(b) stakeholders welcomed this time: The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, Camping Association of Hong Kong, China.