The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said the Tsing Yi Nature Trails will be closed to the public from tonight until further notice, as various departments will be stepping up mosquito control and prevention work along the trails in the near future.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, together with other departments, will further strengthen the intensity and frequency of anti-mosquito measures along the trails, including carrying out fogging operations continuously to eliminate adult mosquitoes.

The CHP advises members of the public not to visit the trails for the time being in order to reduce the risk of contracting chikungunya fever (CF).

Hong Kong has recorded a total of 78 confirmed CF cases so far this year, 10 of which were local cases.

Five patients in the recently reported local cases, aged between 49 and 67, had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area.

The onset dates of their symptoms were between mid-November and December 2, and the latest case among them visited the trails on November 29.