Press Releases

Concerted efforts help contain mosquito problem

        With the concerted efforts of departments and the participation of the public at large, the Monthly Ovitrap Indices (MOI) have dropped from 31.6% in May to 22% in June, the Anti-mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC) learned this (July 12) morning.

        Reviewing the anti-mosquito operations conducted by various departments since the last meeting in mid-June, the AMSC noted all departments had stepped up their efforts to combat the mosquito problem.

        The AMSC also learned that the number of areas which recorded Area Ovitrap Indices (AOI) of over 50% had been reduced from five in May to two in June - they are Diamond Hill (55.1%) and Tai Wai (51%).

        The Port MOI remained low with an average of 6.8% in June. The highest index of 26.3% was detected at cross-boundary checkpoints on land, dropped from 32.5% in May.

        The Steering Committee noted that the 18 District Anti-Mosquito Task Forces had been operating in full swing, coordinating anti-mosquito efforts of the local community and departments, including inspection and patrols to locate potential mosquito breeding grounds, swift referral to relevant departments for follow-up action, proactively seeking information from the community on mosquito hot spots and organising large-scale inter-departmental cleaning exercises.

        Massive anti-mosquito operations, including grass cutting, desilting, insecticide spraying and clearance of illegal cultivation sites were conducted at Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long and Sham Shui Po where the three Japanese encephalitis cases were found.

        In addition, the Housing Department has deployed a task force of 800 staff and cleaning workers to carry out anti-mosquito operations in public housing estates and construction sites.

        The Lands Department has issued a letter to the Real Estates Developers Association appealing to the association and their members to join with the Government to tackle the mosquito problem, in particular at construction sites and abandoned private agricultural land.

        The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department would also pay special attention to mosquito breeding septic tanks when they conduct the mosquito control operation at village houses starting from July 5.

        Commenting on the progress, the chairperson of the AMSC, Mrs Carrie Yau, who is also the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, said the committee was delighted to learn that the concerted effort of Government departments and the community in eliminating mosquito-breeding places had borne fruit.

        She said: "Thanks to the concerted efforts of community leaders and District Councillors, we are beginning to see a lowering trend of mosquito breeding. The support from the community is essential to the effective implementation of the Government's disease control measures.

        "Despite the improvement, we should not be complacent about the short-term success. We must continue to be vigilant in face of the continued threat of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

        "We must continue to take every possible measure to prevent an upsurge of these diseases in the wet season."

        To sustain the anti-mosquito efforts, Mrs Yau called on the whole community to work closely with the Government to keep Hong Kong clean and safe from mosquito-borne diseases.

        "In particular, I call on the public not to conduct illegal farming on hillsides. The illegal cultivation sites have created serious environmental hygiene problems and become mosquito breeding grounds.

        "The Lands Department will conduct clearance operations to remove 68 illegal cultivation hot zones in a month's time and also other newly identified spots in the coming months. Furthermore, strict enforcement action will be taken against offenders."

Ends/Monday, July 12, 2004

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