Public prompted to reinforce anti-mosquito efforts early
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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 8) revealed that the regular monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in April was 7.9 percent, at Level 2, showing that the circulation of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the study locations was relatively comprehensive. The FEHD and appropriate federal government departments have actually stepped up mosquito avoidance and control actions.
In April, amongst the 62 study locations, the location gravidtrap indexes (AGI) in Tai Po East, Tai Po District, and Sheung Shui, North District, surpassed 20 percent, reaching the Level 3 alert level. The gravidtraps were primarily situated in the area of personal houses, public real estate estates, schools, healthcare facilities, leisure and sports centers and public locations. The FEHD has actually teamed up with pertinent federal government departments by taking instant actions to reinforce mosquito avoidance and control operate in the locations worried.
The regular monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in April was 1.3, which represented that an average of 1.3 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 gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in various study locations, along with details on mosquito avoidance and control steps, are offered on the department site at www.fehd.gov.hk.
A representative for the FEHD stated, “With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The actual timing of the increase and its extent are affected by factors like weather and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall in April this year were higher than those of the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding and thus leading to the earlier rise of gravidtrap indexes this year, but the overall trend and extent of the increase are similar to those of previous years. In response to the rise of gravidtrap indexes, the FEHD, together with relevant departments and stakeholders, has implemented rapid response measures and deployed targeted actions. The FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant departments, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work.”
The FEHD continues to perform a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The 2nd stage started on April 13 and will run till June 12. Throughout the duration, the district workplaces of the FEHD are targeting homes, schools, building and construction websites, public real estate estates, healthcare facilities, prohibited growing websites, waterside public and personal freight workspace, land border control points, tropical cyclone shelters and cross-boundary ferryboat terminals to get rid of collected water and perform mosquito avoidance and control work. To even more boost the efficiency of mosquito control, the FEHD and pertinent federal government departments have actually introduced stage one and stage 2 of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations on March 25 and April 30 respectively. Departments will continue with the work of stage one consisting of removing prospective mosquito reproducing locations and scheduling required structural repair work to reduce mosquito breeding locations, and have actually currently begun the work of stage 2 to perform routine ultra-low volume misting operations at locations with mosquito invasion to manage the mosquitoes. The FEHD contacted residential or commercial property management entities to continue actively taking part in the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations.
The FEHD presently makes routine statements on gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus on its web page. To permit more people to rapidly understand the mosquito invasion scenario, the FEHD has actually reinforced info dissemination by quickly revealing the current gravidtrap indexes through news release and social networks.
In addition, to even more lower the threat of transmission of chikungunya fever (CF), the FEHD has actually extended its magnified mosquito control work, which was initially triggered when the AGI reaches 20 percent, to cover locations with the AGI falling in between 10 and 20 percent. Particularly, the FEHD will perform comprehensive threat evaluations in the locations worried to determine places with greater mosquito invasion dangers and, in partnership with pertinent departments and stakeholders, carry out extensive and targeted mosquito control work. The FEHD will likewise inform neighboring real estate estates, recommending residential or commercial property management representatives and locals to remain alert and collaborate to take mosquito avoidance and removal steps.
To decrease the danger of transmission of CF and dengue fever (DF), the FEHD continues to step up mosquito avoidance and control steps throughout all districts and carry out vector examinations and targeted mosquito control operations within a 250-metre radius of the home of clients and the locations that clients had actually checked out throughout the transmittable duration. Actions consist of eliminating mosquito breeding premises, 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.
The FEHD interest members of the general public to continue to remain alert and interact to perform mosquito avoidance and control procedures early, consisting of examining their homes and environments to eliminate prospective breeding premises, altering water in vases and scrubbing their inner surface areas, eliminating water in dishes under plant pots a minimum of as soon as a week, appropriately dealing with containers such as empty cans and non reusable meal boxes. The FEHD likewise recommends members of the general public and estate management bodies to keep drains pipes devoid of obstruction and level all malfunctioning ground surface areas to avoid the build-up of water. They must likewise scrub all drains pipes and surface area sewage systems with an alkaline cleaning agent a minimum of as soon as a week to get rid of any mosquito eggs.
Aedes albopictus is a sort of mosquito that can transfer DF and CF. DF is typically discovered in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and has actually ended up being endemic in numerous nations in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) tape-recorded over 14 million DF cases, which was a record number. According to the WHO, CF cases have actually been taped in more than 110 countries/regions. Lots of nations worldwide experienced CF break outs in 2015; since December 10, 2025, more than 500,000 cases had actually been reported in over 40 countries/regions worldwide. Cases have actually been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Temperature levels in subtropical and some temperate areas stay raised due to environment modification, producing beneficial conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF break outs continue to take place in numerous nations worldwide. The threat of imported cases continues. Members of the general public ought to inspect the circumstance of their locations before taking a trip abroad, specifically when taking a trip to Southeast Asian nations.