Hong Kong SAR government is making efforts at three levels to prevent the spread of dengue fever, secretary for health, welfare and food Yeoh Eng-kiong said Wednesday in a Legislative Council meeting.
Yeoh said the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has set up an interdepartmental working group to coordinate control actions on pest including mosquitoes.
"Since dengue fever was declared a statutory notifiable disease in 1994, we have stepped up efforts to prevent its spread. Being a mosquito-borne disease, dengue fever is best prevented by combating the vector mosquitoes," the secretary said.
A total of 44 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in 2002, and in 2003 a total of 12 confirmed cases were reported up to date, which were all imported cases, according to statistics.
Yeoh said the strategy to eradicate mosquitoes necessitates the control of mosquito problems at source by eliminating their breeding places.
"With the approach of the wet season, we will arrange to send copies of the relevant advisory notes to the management of public/private housing estates and schools to remind them of the need to take control measures," Yeoh added.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2003)
