As Hong Kong confirmed its first locally acquired chikungunya fever case on Sunday, it prompted the Environment and Ecology Bureau to convene an urgent meeting on Monday to bolster mosquito control efforts, especially in public and private cemeteries during the Chung Yeung Festival, as the city’s total cases reached 47 this year.
Hong Kong recorded its 47th chikungunya fever case of 2025 yesterday, with the first locally acquired infection prompting swift action from the Environment and Ecology Bureau, which convened a special interdepartmental pest control meeting today to enhance mosquito prevention strategies.
With the Chung Yeung Festival approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced intensified cleaning and anti-mosquito efforts at public cemeteries and columbaria, while urging private cemetery operators to implement similar measures.
Authorities emphasized the importance of clearing stagnant water and litter after grave visits to prevent mosquito breeding, a key factor in spreading the virus.
During the meeting, a representative from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department reported that the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes remained below 10 percent from July to September, indicating a low level of mosquito activity.
The department has held district-level meetings with interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to coordinate frontline efforts, directing resources to high-risk areas for targeted and sustained mosquito control.
Inspections of construction sites, private residences, public estates, parks, and other public spaces have been strengthened in collaboration with the Housing Department and Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Enforcement actions are being taken against properties found breeding mosquitoes, with the department conducting random inspections and escalating significant concerns to senior officials.
Under Secretary of the Environment and Ecology and Pest Control Steering Committee chair Diane Wong Shuk-han urged all government departments and stakeholders to implement robust measures to curb the potential spread of chikungunya.
