March Gravidtrap Indexes Show Low Aedes Albopictus Presence Across Hong Kong Survey Areas

FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in March

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 24) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in March, covering 21 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

March 2026

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Wan Chai

Happy Valley and Tai Hang

0.0%

N/A

Islands

Tung Chung

0.0%

N/A

Kowloon City

Ho Man Tin

0.0%

N/A

Kwun Tong

Kowloon Bay

0.0%

N/A

Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping

1.6%

1.0

Sham Shui Po

Cheung Sha Wan

0.0%

N/A

Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei

0.0%

N/A

Tai Po

Tai Po West

0.0%

N/A

Yuen Long

Yuen Long Town

0.0%

N/A

District

Survey Area

March 2026

Area Gravidtrap Index

Area Density Index

Central and Western

Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun

1.8%

1.0

Southern

Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau

0.9%

1.0

Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay

0.0%

N/A

Pok Fu Lam

0.0%

N/A

Wan Chai

Tin Hau and Causeway Bay

0.0%

N/A

Wan Chai

0.0%

N/A

Kowloon City

Kai Tak

1.0%

1.0

Sha Tin

Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan

0.0%

N/A

Tai Wai

0.0%

N/A

Kwai Tsing

Kwai Chung East

0.0%

N/A

Kwai Chung West

0.0%

N/A

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun West

0.0%

N/A

Among the fourth batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering nine survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 12 survey areas in March, most of the areas recorded 0 per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.

The FEHD has so far released four batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in March 2026, covering 41 survey areas. Among these 41 survey areas, 32 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month (i.e. February 2026), representing that the areas' mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Nine other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

The warm and humid weather of spring is favourable for mosquito breeding. Members of the public should strengthen prevention work against mosquito breeding before the rainy season, and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites in advance, with a view to avoiding the nuisances caused by rapid mosquito breeding during the rainy season and reducing the risk of transmitting mosquito-borne diseases.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;

remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;

check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;

change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;

properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;

properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and

scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtrap in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Source: AI-found images

SRPA successfully prosecutes first-hand residential development vendor for contraventions of ordinance

The Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority (SRPA) today (March 24) successfully prosecuted a first-hand residential development vendor for contraventions of the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance (the Ordinance). The vendor was charged with 45 counts of offences for (i) failure to make hard copies of the sales brochure printed or examined within the previous three months available for collection by the general public during a period of at least seven days immediately before a date of the sale (15 counts); (ii) failure to make hard copies of the sales brochure printed or examined within the previous three months available for collection by the general public at the sales office on a date of the sale (15 counts), and (iii) failure to make a copy of the sales brochure printed or examined within the previous three months for the development available for inspection on the vendor's designated website on a date of the sale (15 counts), contravening Section 25(1), Section 25(2), and Section 25(3) of the Ordinance respectively. The vendor pleaded guilty to the above offences and was convicted and fined $375,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today. The development concerned is located at So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun, New Territories.

"The SRPA has long been taking a three-pronged approach to enforce the Ordinance, i.e. to step up compliance checks, inspections, as well as collection of required evidence for prosecutions; to continuously improve the trade's compliance with the Ordinance; and to foster public awareness of the Ordinance. The SRPA will take action seriously and carry out investigations on any suspected cases of contravention of the Ordinance to further enhance the transparency and fairness of the sales of first-hand residential properties, protect the interests of purchasers, as well as provide a level playing field for vendors," a spokesman for the SRPA said.

Details of the case have been uploaded onto the SRPA's website at www.srpa.gov.hk/en/prosecution-cases.html for public inspection.

Source: AI-found images