The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said a total of 37 Dengue fever cases have been recorded in Hong Kong as of yesterday, of which 34 are imported and three are local. 

The Department of Health and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) held a press conference today to urge members of the public to heighten their vigilance against mosquito-borne diseases, enhance anti-mosquito awareness and implement personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

CHP Communicable Disease Branch Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Tonny Ng said at the press conference that most of the imported cases visited some tourist spots in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, during the incubation period.

The three local cases include one recorded in April with a patient living in Siu Sai Wan, while another two were recorded in June with both patients living in Tin Shui Wai, he added.

The CHP has conducted active case finding and medical surveillance for the three local cases.

For the Tin Shui Wai cases, as of yesterday, more than 5,200 residents in 2,000 households of the housing estate where the patients lived were reached. So far, no new cases have been found.

Meanwhile, the FEHD has conducted vector mosquito investigations and targeted mosquito control operations in view of the two cases in Tin Shui Wai.

FEHD Mosquito Risk Assessment & Advisory Unit Head Tsang Chi-yan said the department has intensified mosquito prevention and control work in the residences, workplaces and locations visited by the patients during the incubation period and after the onset of illness.

These include conducting fogging operations in the scrubby areas within a 250m radius of the related locations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, as well as carrying out weekly inspections, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers to prevent mosquito breeding.

The department has also stepped up publicity and education work, she added.

CHP Health Promotion Branch Head Dr Leung Yiu-hong supplemented that it commissioned a survey between January and February to assess the general public’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards mosquito-borne diseases and its prevention.

The survey found that the 2,002 people aged 18 or above who were successfully interviewed had a good awareness of mosquito-borne diseases, but their awareness of the transmission and complications of mosquito-borne diseases was relatively low.

The respondents’ insect repellent knowledge was also not sufficient. 

Dr Leung reminded the public to read the label instructions carefully when purchasing insect repellents and choose insect repellents containing diethyltoluamide (DEET).