Press Releases
Proactive measures taken to guard against mosquito breeding
The Anti-Mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC) held a meeting today (October 7)
to coordinate government efforts and direct departments to take proactive
and strategic anti-mosquito measures to contain the problem.
The AMSC is chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food),
Mrs Marion Lai, and comprises representatives of a number of policy bureaux
and departments.
Representatives of policy bureaux and departments briefed the meeting on
their anti-mosquito work and strategies this year, as well as the
anti-mosquito measures initiated in response to the recent local confirmed
cases of dengue fever. The meeting considered that the active participation
of the community was crucial to the effectiveness of mosquito control work.
Mrs Lai urged the various policy bureaux and departments to enhance
cooperation and intensify their mosquito prevention and control work. For
example, anti-mosquito efforts should be strengthened at problematic spots
and the effectiveness of the work involved should be reviewed from time to
time.
The meeting noted that the ovitrap indices from January to August 2010 are
on average lower than those of the same periods of last year and of 2000 to
2008. During this summer's rainy season, the Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department (FEHD) convened 25 inter-departmental meetings and enhanced the
coordination of anti-mosquito efforts at the district level. At the same
time, the FEHD will explore widening the coverage of ovitrap surveillance
with a view to strengthening the monitoring of the breeding of Aedes
albopictus.
The meeting also discussed strengthening the alert mechanism, exploring ways
to enhance the existing web-based platform in order to further facilitate
the exchange of information regarding mosquito prevention work and the
mosquito problem among government departments, and enabling the release of
information to the public more quickly.
The meeting also agreed that publicity and public education should be
stepped up so that the public could better understand the importance of
mosquito prevention.
The meeting expressed the belief that, with concerted efforts and continuous
vigilance on the part of the Government, local organisations, estate
management bodies and the public, the mosquito problem could be effectively
tackled.
Ends/Thursday, October 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:16
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