The public should stay alert against Dengue fever and take measures to prevent mosquito breeding, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says.

Making the appeal today, department consultant Dr Ho Yuk-yin said last month's Ovitrap Index was 20.3%, the lowest in the month of July over the past three years. The index indicates the extent of distribution of aedes albopictus, the mosquito species that carries Dengue fever.

However, as the index remains high, Dr Ho cautioned that Hong Kong is still highly susceptible to another Dengue fever outbreak, adding that prevailing weather conditions are still favourable to mosquito breeding.

Readings in some areas such as Tin Shui Wai and Tai Po North remained at 46% and 48% respectively.

Task force to co-ordinate anti-mosquito operations

To counter this, an inter-departmental task force will be set up to co-ordinate anti-mosquito operations. The department will also run a campaign from August 25 to October 4 to widely publicise the importance of curbing mosquito breeding.

Apart from stepping up enforcement action and clearance operations, it will organise roving exhibitions and health talks.

Measures to take to prevent mosquito breeding

Dr Ho called on the public to keep all drains free, cover all water containers tightly, and level all defective ground surfaces to avoid water accumulation.

Between May 26 and July 5, the department treated 53,150 mosquito breeding places, took out 71 prosecutions and issued 80 warnings.

Dengue fever cases all imported - so far

All 29 Dengue fever cases reported so far have been imported, and the figure was the highest since the disease became notifiable in 1994.

Of these, five cases were from the Philippines, eight from Thailand, seven from Indonesia, three from Singapore, two from Malaysia, two from Cambodia and two from Sri Lanka.

He advised people to adopt preventive measures when travelling, such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, applying insect repellent to exposed body parts, and using mosquito nets or screens in rooms without air-conditioning.

For Ovitrap indices and advice on anti-mosquito measures, please click here, or call 2868 0000.