FEHD improves promulgation of gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and enhances mosquito avoidance and control procedures
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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 8) revealed that the regular monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in July was 8.1 percent, at Level 2, which is lower than the 9.5 percent in June, showing that the circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the study locations was relatively substantial. Pertinent federal government departments have actually constantly magnified mosquito avoidance and removal operations, leading to the enhancement of general condition of mosquito problem this month. In addition, the FEHD will enhance the dissemination of info on gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes so that more residents can rapidly understand the mosquito problem circumstance. The department will likewise even more enhance its mosquito control work to decrease the threat of transmission of chikungunya fever (CF).
In July, amongst the 64 study locations, just the location gravidtrap index (AGI) of Ma Wan went beyond the alert level of 20 percent, reduced from 2 study locations in June. The appropriate gravidtraps in the district worried were primarily situated in sports centers and public locations, and the FEHD has actually worked together with other federal government departments and stakeholders to enhance mosquito avoidance and removal work within 100-metre radius of the favorable gravidtraps. The declines in the month-to-month gravidtrap index and the variety of locations with an AGI surpassing the alert level in July are attributable to the constant and magnified mosquito avoidance and removal operations by different federal government departments and stakeholders, and might likewise have actually been impacted by aspects like weather condition. The month-to-month rains was 601.7 millimetres in July, revealing a substantial boost from the 23.73 millimetres in June.
The month-to-month density index for Aedes albopictus in July was 1.2, which represented that an average of 1.2 Aedes albopictus grownups were discovered in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, showing that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not plentiful in the study locations.
The FEHD has actually the whole time been frequently revealing the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus on its web page. To permit more people to rapidly comprehend the mosquito invasion scenario, the FEHD will enhance the dissemination of info by early statement of the most recent gravidtrap index through news release and social networks platforms.
In addition, to even more decrease the threat of transmission of CF, the FEHD will extend the heightened mosquito control work, which was initially triggered when the AGI reaches 20 percent, to cover locations with the AGI fall in between 10 and 20 percent. Particularly, the FEHD will perform comprehensive danger evaluations in the locations worried to determine places with greater mosquito invasion dangers, and in cooperation with pertinent departments and stakeholders, perform extensive and targeted mosquito control work. The FEHD will likewise inform the close-by real estate estates, recommending residential or commercial property management representatives and citizens to remain alert and sign up with hands in taking mosquito avoidance and removal procedures.
Given that last month, the FEHD has actually stepped up mosquito avoidance and control procedures throughout all districts to decrease the danger of transmission of CF and other mosquito-borne illness. Following the current imported CF cases, the FEHD has actually instantly performed vector examinations and targeted mosquito control operations within 250-metre radius of the house of the clients and the locations they had actually checked out throughout the contagious duration, consisting of getting rid of mosquito breeding place, using larvicides to stagnant water that can not be cleared, and performing ultra-low volume misting operations in adult mosquito environments such as largely wooded locations, dark and remote locations, and deserted structures to get rid of adult mosquitoes.
Following the suggestions from the World Health Organization and considering the regional circumstance in Hong Kong, the FEHD establishes gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne illness have actually been tape-recorded in the past, in addition to in largely inhabited locations such as real estate estates, medical facilities and schools, to keep an eye on the breeding and circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transfer CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has actually established gravidtraps in 64 study locations of the neighborhood. Throughout the 2 weeks of security, the FEHD will gather the gravidtraps when a week. After the very first week of monitoring, the FEHD will right away take a look at the glue boards inside the recovered gravidtraps for the existence of adult Aedine mosquitoes, to put together the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the 2nd week of security, the FEHD will immediately inspect the glue boards for the existence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Information of the 2 weeks’ security will be integrated to get the AGI and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in various study locations along with info on mosquito avoidance and control steps are offered on the department’s web page (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html).