Press Releases

SFH on dengue fever

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after meeting the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Committees of the 18 District Councils today (September 20):

Reporter: In light of the fourth dengue fever case in Hong Kong, do you think that there is a need to step up anti-mosquito measures to curb this mosquito-borne disease?

Secretary for Food and Health: We are very concerned about the occurrence of the fourth local dengue fever case this year. In the past few years, the number of dengue fever cases in Hong Kong was more or less around a hundred per year and most of these cases were imported. Each year, we only have one, two or three local cases but we have four local cases so far this year. The special point of the fourth case is that it is probably not related to the earlier cases. Of course, testing of the specific type of virus involved is still going. At least, there is no epidemiological evidence to link the fourth case with the earlier three cases. In view of the fact that surveillance indexes of mosquito activities in various districts were above the line of precaution, I am of the opinion that we need to step up mosquito control measures in all districts, in particular those districts with local cases recorded.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:35
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