Govt steps up mosquito control & trials new measures against chikungunya fever
發佈日期: 2025-08-12 21:22
TVB News
Hong Kong has recorded one more confirmed case of chikungunya fever. The Kwai Chung-residing patient had earlier visited chikungunya-hit Foshan in Guangdong province.
The government says authorities have stepped up anti-mosquito measures.
All six confirmed chikungunya fever cases so far in Hong Kong, including the latest one, were imported. This resident at Sau Mau Ping says he's not that scared because the mosquito-borne disease doesn't spread from people to people.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan inspected mosquito control efforts in the morning, with mosquito repellent kits handed out.
Tse says the flight range of mosquitoes is only about 100 metres.
Once imported cases are detected, authorities conduct targeted mosquito control within 250 metres of the patient's residence or workplace.
He added the government introduced a new mosquito-killing agent -- when placed in water containers, mosquitoes that touch it will carry the agent to other water bodies.
Even if mosquito eggs hatch there, the larvae will not grow into adult mosquitoes. He says offenders will be prosecuted if mosquito infestation or stagnant water is found at construction sites. Over the first seven months of this year, 84 prosecutions were made.
Another chikungunya-related issue: the emergence of rapid test kits claiming to screen chikungunya fever virus.
At this Sham Shui Po pharmacy, some cost 19 dollars apiece. They require a finger prick and blood draws followed by the addition of a reagent.
A household goods chain also ran a flash sale online for the same product, costing 60 dollars for four boxes. The webpage now shows the promotion has ended.
At the special meeting of the Legislative Council's Panel on Environmental Hygiene, authorities reiterate such kits are not recommended for public use, citing concerns over false results and treatment delays.
At the meeting, the government revealed they are also exploring the idea of "using mosquitoes to control mosquitoes", which has yielded decent trial results in Singapore.
While they hope to run trials in Hong Kong, the test would take time -- so it may not be widely used to combat the outbreak this time.
