Heavy rainfall disrupts anti-mosquito efforts, says FEHD

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has warned that persistent heavy rain in recent days has hampered mosquito control efforts, raising concerns over the potential spread of mosquito-borne diseases, including the chikungunya virus.

The head of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's rodent risk assessment and advisory unit, Anita Fok Ming-yan, told a radio program this morning that after a confirmed imported case of chikungunya fever, the department conducted vector surveillance at the patient’s residence and other visited locations.

Enhanced mosquito eradication measures—including fogging and clearing stagnant water—were carried out to eliminate breeding grounds and prevent local transmission, she said.

Fok explained that the effects of mosquito fogging typically last two to three days. However, the recent prolonged downpours disrupted these efforts, as rainwater accumulated and created new breeding sites for mosquitoes.

She emphasized that the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which transmits chikungunya, thrives in small water collections, such as in flower pot saucers and air conditioner drip trays.

The public is urged to inspect and remove stagnant water regularly to curb mosquito proliferation.

FEHD expands social media presence

In a separate development, the FEHD has launched official Facebook and Instagram pages to improve public communication.

The new platforms aim to share key updates, departmental services, and event information more efficiently.

While the department already operates the "Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak" and "Centre for Food Safety" pages, the newly introduced FEHD social media accounts will serve as a centralized hub for announcements, further strengthening engagement with the public.

The move, announced today (August 8), is part of efforts to ensure faster and more direct dissemination of critical information.

(Marco Lam)