Residents urged to avoid Tsing Yi Nature Trails as chikungunya cluster forces immediate closure

Health authorities have urged the public to avoid Tsing Yi Nature Trails after a cluster of local chikungunya cases was linked to the area, prompting its closure from tonight as teams prepare to carry out intensified mosquito control measures.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said the site will be temporarily closed starting Tuesday night to reduce the risk of infection. The advisory follows five recent locally acquired chikungunya cases, with all patients having visited the hiking trail area before falling ill.

Hong Kong has recorded 78 chikungunya cases so far this year, 10 of which are local infections. As of 5pm today, the CHP said no new cases had been reported.

The CHP said the five cases involved two men and three women aged 49 to 67, who developed symptoms between mid-November and December 2. Epidemiological investigations show that their activity locations overlapped at Tsing Yi Nature Trails, and several reported being bitten by mosquitoes there. The most recent patient visited the area on November 29.

Although various departments have already conducted mosquito prevention and control operations over the past two to three weeks, authorities noted that infections among people who recently visited the trails indicate that transmission risk in the area remains.

A cross-departmental meeting was held yesterday (Dec 8) with representatives from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Home Affairs Department, Drainage Services Department, Lands Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department to discuss further strengthening mosquito control efforts at the site.

Given that more intensive anti-mosquito operations will soon take place, the government said Tsing Yi Nature Trails will remain closed to the public until further notice. The CHP again advised residents not to visit the area at this stage to minimize the risk of contracting chikungunya.