Press Releases
AMSC reviews inter-departmental anti-mosquito efforts
The Anti-mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC) met today (April 15) to review the
anti-mosquito efforts of government departments.
Chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau,
the committee was formed to set strategies and directions for mosquito control
in Hong Kong. It draws its membership from 11 relevant government bureaux and
departments.
The AMSC noted that the mosquito breeding problem in the first three months of
2005 had not been serious as reflected by the ovitrap indices and this might be
attributed to the exceptionally dry weather in the first quarter of 2005.
"It is however anticipated that the ovitrap index will start to rise when the
warmer and rainy season approaches," Mrs Yau said, "Government departments have
drawn up their plan to step up the mosquito prevention and control measures. The
community must also stay alert and take proactive action to eliminate mosquito
breeding places in their premises and their neighbourhood."
As of yesterday, there were four imported dengue fever cases and no Japanese
Encephalitis (JE) case was recorded this year. Last year, there were 31 imported
dengue fever and five JE cases.
The AMSC also noted the interim findings of the one-year JE vectors survey
conducted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) since October,
2004.
The survey targeted at areas where pig farms and wetlands with aggregation of
migratory birds were found. The survey revealed the presence of Culex
tritaeniorhynchus in a number of locations, ranging from rural areas in Luk Keng,
Sha Tau Kok of the North district to Mai Po, Shek Wu Wai of Yuen Long. Breeding
of Culex tritaeniorhynchus was also seen in Lam Tin, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Lau
Fau Shan and Lantau Island.
Among the mosquito specimens collected from mosquito traps set in 55 different
venues, only one Culex tritaeniorhynchus sample collected from Yuen Long was
found to be virus positive.
The committee also noted the conclusion of the Scientific Committee on
Vector-borne Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) that the risk
of JE infection in Hong Kong is low. Vaccination was only recommended for
travellers who were going to stay one month or longer in endemic areas in Asia
and Western Pacific Region, particularly in rural areas.
After the meeting, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow,
inspected the anti-mosquito operations in Hang Hau Tsuen and Sha Kong Tsuen,
Yuen Long.
During the inspection, Dr Chow was briefed on the difficulties currently
encountered by FEHD in dealing with mosquito problem on private agricultural
land and in abandoned huts. FEHD staff have to take time-consuming procedures to
identify the ownership of the land or abandoned hut and may only take
anti-mosquito operation if the occupier or owner fails to comply with the
notice.
Dr Chow noted that legislative amendments would soon be introduced into the
Legislative Council to give more power to FEHD to deal with mosquito breeding
problem. Under the proposal, FEHD would be able to take necessary action to
prevent the breeding of mosquitoes without notice where there was a
mosquito-related health hazard and to recover the associated costs.
Dr Chow also visited the six-year-old boy in Sha Kong Tsuen who contracted JE in
October last year. Noting that the boy was making progress in his recovery , Dr
Chow said that with the rainy season beginning soon, people should maintain good
environmental hygiene and prevent mosquito breeding.
"Only when all relevant departments, related parties, district organisations and
members of the public play their part and work in close partnership can we deal
with the mosquito problem effectively, and hence minimise the threat of dengue
fever, JE and other mosquito-transmitted diseases," he said.
Ends/Friday, April 15, 2005
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