Hong Kong Reports No New Chikungunya Cases, Two Imported Dengue Fever Cases Confirmed

Update on mosquito-borne diseases, chikungunya fever and dengue fever

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 7) reported the latest situation of chikungunya fever (CF) and dengue fever (DF).

Chikungunya fever

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As of 5pm today, no new cases of chikungunya fever had been recorded.

Hong Kong has recorded a total of 59 confirmed CF cases this year. Among them, three were local cases and the rest were imported cases.

In light of a locally acquired case recorded in Kwai Tsing District earlier this week,the CHP conducted a risk assessment and collaborated with relevant District Services & Community Care Teams to distribute leaflets on CF prevention to over 10 000 households in Mount Haven and the surrounding areas, Kwai Chung Plaza, Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan and the vicinityto remind residents to monitor for relevant symptoms and maintain good environmental hygiene at home.

From November 3 to 5pm today, the CHP has conducted assessments for over 13 000 individuals residing or working in higher-risk districts through three health consultation booths at Cheung Hang Community Hall in Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong Estate (near Kwai Ming House) and the pedestrian bridge towards the east exit of Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan, along with its inquiry hotline, door-to-door visits and questionnaire surveys conducted in the districts concerned. A total of 14 individuals with mild symptoms have been arranged to undergo blood tests and all returned negative results. Details are as follows:

In the vicinity of Mount Haven in Tsing Yi

In the vicinity of Kwai Chung Plaza

In the vicinity of Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan

Number of individuals assessed

Over 4 400 persons

Over 6 100 persons

Over 3 100 persons

Number of individuals with mild symptoms who have been arranged to undergo blood tests

4 persons

6 persons

4 persons

Number of individuals who have completed testing

4 persons (all negative)

6 persons (all negative)

4 persons (all negative)

Number of individuals pending testing results

Nil

Nil

Nil

Given that the vast majority of citizens visiting the health consultation booth at the pedestrian bridge towards the east exit of Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan are people working in the area, and that the number of attending citizens has significantly decreased over the past two days, the booth will cease operations starting tomorrow. The health consultation booths in Tsing Yi and Kwai Fong will continue to provide assessments to members of the public with relevant symptoms. Their operating hours will be adjusted as needed. Please refer to the CHP's webpage for the addresses and operating hours of these health consultation booths. The previously established inquiry hotline (2125 2373) will adjust its operating hours starting tomorrow to 9am to 6pm daily.

Dengue fever

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From October 31 to yesterday (November 6), the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. The patients had travelled to Cambodia and Zhongshan in Guangdong Province during the incubation periods.

As of yesterday, 52 imported DF cases have been recorded so far this year. A total of 161 cases of DF were recorded in 2024, including 156 imported and five local cases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2024, the WHO recorded over 14 million cases, which was a record number. From January to July 2025, over 4 million cases and over 3 000 DF-related deaths have been reported in 97 countries/territories.

DF is prevalent in many neighbouring tourist destinations. Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have each recorded over 40 000 cases so far this year. Singapore has also recorded over 3 500 cases.Meanwhile, according to the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong Province has recorded 3 013 locally infected cases so far this year. A total of 306 cases were recorded in a week between October 20 to 26, with the highest number of cases recorded in Chaozhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and Foshan.

Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP'swebsite.

Continuously strengthening prevention and control

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TheFood and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July this year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:

carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;

carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and

enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.

The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.

Preventive measures taken by the public

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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:

read the label instructions carefully first;

apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;

apply on exposed skin and clothing;

use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);

apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;

reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and

in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.

The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.

Source: AI-found images

TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays

The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 1) that, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays, cross-boundary travellers are urged to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to accommodate the diverse travelling needs of passengers, including:

• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line (ERL) between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times during the above period based on passenger demand for the convenience of residents and visitors;

• Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and

• The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

Of note, HZMB users to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.

As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

Information dissemination

For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post