Hong Kong – FEHD releases 5th batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in April (with images)

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (April 30) launched the 5th batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in April, covering 39 study locations, as follows:

Amongst the 5th batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 9 study locations and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 30 study locations in April, all were listed below 10 percent, other than for the First Phase Gravidtrap Index of Kwai Chung East in Kwai Tsing District, and the Area Gravidtrap Indexes of Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho in Eastern District, Kai Tak in Kowloon City District, Sheung Shui in Northern District, Tseung Kwan O North in Sai Kung District, Tai Po East in Tai Po District and Tuen Mun South in Tuen Mun District.

With referral to the information in the previous couple of years, the gravidtrap indexes begin to increase from April or May every year. The real start time and level of increase are impacted by elements like weather condition and rains. The typical temperature level and rains in April this year were greater than those of the very same duration in 2015, developing beneficial conditions for mosquito development and breeding and therefore resulting in the earlier increase of gravidtrap indexes this year, however the general pattern and degree of increase resemble those of previous years. In reaction to the increase of gravidtrap indexes, the FEHD, together with appropriate departments and stakeholders, have actually executed quick action steps and released targeted actions.

For Kwai Chung East in Kwai Tsing District, Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho in Eastern District, Kai Tak in Kowloon City District, Sheung Shui in Northern District, Tseung Kwan O North in Sai Kung District, Tai Po East in Tai Po District, and Tuen Mun South in Tuen Mun District, which tape-recorded indexes going beyond 10 percent, in accordance with the system executed by the FEHD in action to the chikungunya fever (CF)circumstance( i.e. enhancing mosquito control operate in locations with a gravidtrap index in between 10 percent and 20 percent, rather of 20 percent or above under the initial system), the FEHD is working together with appropriate departments and stakeholders to determine areas with high mosquito problems and perform extensive and targeted mosquito control steps. In specific, the gravidtrap information for Kwai Chung East revealed that locations with more mosquito issues consisted of parks, schools and public real estate estates; the gravidtrap information for Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho, Kai Tak, and Tseung Kwan O North revealed that locations with more mosquito issues consisted of parks, schools, and public and personal real estate estates; the gravidtrap information for Sheung Shui revealed that locations with more mosquito issues consisted of parks, schools, public real estate estates and town homes; the gravidtrap information for Tai Po East revealed that locations with more mosquito issues consisted of parks, schools, public and personal real estate estates, and healthcare facilities; and the gravidtrap information for Tuen Mun South revealed that locations with more mosquito issues consisted of parks, and public and personal real estate estates.

In action to the high-risk locations determined in the stated study locations, the FEHD has actually started 2 prosecutions versus an appropriate building website professional and a place management professional following the discovery of mosquito breeding at a building website and a park in Tai Po District. Following the discovery of stagnant water and stagnant water containers in a building and construction website in Eastern District and 2 personal real estate estates in Tai Po District, an overall of 3 statutory notifications have actually been provided to the appropriate building and construction website specialist and home management business, needing the clearance of such products within defined timeframe. The FEHD and the pertinent departments are acting on the mosquito control work, and will likewise arrange exhibits, disperse brochures and posters, and inform property estates that have actually signed up for the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, recommending home management representatives and citizens to remain alert and interact in taking mosquito avoidance and removal procedures. In addition, the FEHD will reinforce the tracking of the gravidtrap index in the locations to examine the efficiency of the mosquito control work.

The FEHD has actually up until now launched 5 batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in April 2026, covering 61 study locations. Amongst these 61 study locations, one taped a reduction or stayed the same as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month (i.e. March 2026), representing that the location’s mosquito invasion enhanced or kept a low level. Fifty other locations taped a minor boost, however the indexes were lower than 10 percent.

Public involvement is important to the reliable control of mosquito issues. The FEHD attract members of the general public to continue to interact in reinforcing individual mosquito control steps, consisting of:

• clean up their facilities and look for any build-up of water inside their properties;
• eliminate all unneeded water collections and get rid of the sources;
• check home products (those put in outside and open locations in specific), such as refuse containers, vases, a/c unit drip trays, and laundry racks to avoid stagnant water;
• modification water in flower vases and scrub their inner surface areas completely, and eliminate water in dishes under potted plants a minimum of when a week;
• appropriately cover all containers that hold water to avoid mosquitoes from accessing the water;
• correctly deal with posts that can consist of water, such as non reusable meal boxes and empty cans; and
• scrub drains pipes and surface area drains with alkaline cleaning agent a minimum of as soon as a week to eliminate any mosquito eggs.

Beginning in August 2025, following the conclusion of the security of private study locations, and as soon as the current gravidtrap index and the density index are offered, the FEHD has actually been distributing pertinent details through news release, its site and social networks. It intends to enable members of the general public to rapidly understand the mosquito problem circumstance and reinforce mosquito control efforts, therefore lowering the danger of CF transmission.

Following suggestions from the World Health Organization and taking into consideration the regional circumstance in Hong Kong, the FEHD establishes gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne illness have actually been tape-recorded in the past, along with in largely inhabited locations such as real estate estates, medical facilities and schools to keep track of the breeding and circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can send CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has actually established gravidtraps in 62 study locations of the neighborhood, with a security duration of 2 weeks. Throughout the security duration, 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 from the 2 weeks of monitoring will be integrated to get the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in various study locations, in addition to info on mosquito avoidance and control procedures, are offered on the department’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).