Hong Kong Officials Enhance Mosquito Control Measures Amid Chikungunya Fever Concerns in Wong Tai Sin Area.

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, accompanied by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng; Assistant Director (Operations) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Mr Tsoi Ka-wai, and representatives from relevant departments, inspected the enhanced preventive work against chikungunya fever (CF) in Fung Tak Estate in Wong Tai Sin and the surrounding area this afternoon (October 27).

Mr Tse said Hong Kong recorded 18 locally acquired cases of dengue fever spread by mosquitoes in 2018. With the concerted mosquito prevention and control efforts by the government and various sectors, the transmission chain was successfully interrupted. He encouraged FEHD staff to intensify mosquito control measures to contain the spread of the CF.

FEHD officers briefed Mr Tse that the FEHD deployed officers today to inspect in the vicinity of the first local chikungunya fever case patient's residence and found mosquito breeding and stagnant water in a residential estate. As a result, they instituted a prosecution and issued a statutory notice to the relevant property management company in accordance with Section 27 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), requiring the company's responsible person to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. The FEHD also inspected nearby construction sites and found mosquito breeding and stagnant water, and hence instituted a prosecution and issued four statutory notices to the relevant contractors.

In addition, the FEHD has inspected schools, elderly homes, and childcare facilities in the surrounding area and has installed new mosquito traps in the relevant schools to further strengthen mosquito prevention and control.

Mr Tse said the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures. The Environment and Ecology Bureau convened the interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee special meeting to advise relevant departments to strengthen anti-mosquito measures in the areas under their purviews. The district offices of the FEHD will also hold interdepartmental meetings at the district level to undergo risk assessment and conduct targeted measures.

He appealed to members of the public to fully support and co-operate with the Government's work, including seeking medical advice or contacting the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health if they had a fever, rash or joint pain. Members of the public should also inspect their homes; property management personnel should also inspect public areas within buildings and housing estates, such as flower beds, refuse rooms, and rooftops, to thoroughly eliminate stagnant water, preventing mosquito breeding.

While attending a continuing professional development seminar held by the Property Management Services Authority today, Mr Ng called on the industry to work hand in hand with the Government to enhance mosquito prevention and control measures within their managed properties.

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects enhanced preventive work in Wong Tai Sin against chikungunya fever Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS continues to follow up on soft ice-cream sample detected with coliform bacteria count exceeding legal limits

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 22) said that subsequent to an announcement yesterday(May 21) that a soft ice-cream sample from a licensed itinerant hawker (mobile van) in Central was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, a follow-up investigation showed that another soft ice-cream sample collected from the same mobile van was also found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. This sample was collected before preventive and control measures instituted by the CFS. The follow-up investigation is ongoing.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS again collected soft ice-cream sample from the mobile van concerned for testing when following up on the related incident yesterday. The test result showed that the sample contained 540 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

"The CFS has conducted follow-up investigation of the mobile van concerned again. According to the CFS's advice, the person-in-charge of the licence concerned has already disposed all the affected soft ice-cream and suspended the operation of the mobile van concerned since yesterday and carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge of the licence concerned to ensure that the person-in-charge has adopted relevant improvement measures," the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

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