CHP Urges Public to Prevent Dengue and Chikungunya Fever Amid Rising Cases and Mosquito Breeding Conditions

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

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 14) announced the latest situation regarding dengue fever (DF) and chikungunya fever (CF). High temperatures and rainfall in summer are favourable for mosquito breeding, members of the public are reminded to take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

The Centre for Health Protection, Photo source: reference image

Dengue fever

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From August 7 to yesterday (August 13), the CHP recorded one imported DF case. The patient had travelled to Malaysia during the incubation period.

Hong Kong has recorded 28 DF cases so far this year, comprising 26 imported cases and two local cases. A total of 59 DF cases were recorded last year (2025), all of which were imported cases. In 2024, 161 DF cases were recorded, comprising 156 imported cases 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 DF cases, which was a record number. In 2025, over five million cases and over 4 000 DF-related deaths were reported in over 90 countries/territories. From January to June 2026, around 1.6 million cases and over 700 DF-related deaths have been reported in 89 countries/territories. Some Asian countries (including Sri Lanka and Cambodia) are experiencing large outbreaks this year, with figures reaching record highs in recent years.

DF has been prevalent in many neighbouring tourist destinations all along. So far this year, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam each recorded over 70 000 cases; Cambodia and Malaysia each recorded over 40 000 cases; India recorded over 30 000 cases; and Singapore recorded over 1 900 cases. Meanwhile, according to the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration, Guangdong Province has recorded over 3 500 local cases in 2025. In 2026, as of June 30, Guangdong Province has recorded 30 local cases.

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's website.

Chikungunya fever

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From August 7 to yesterday, no new cases of CF had been recorded. Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed CF cases so far this year, both of which were imported cases. Hong Kong recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases and the rest were imported cases.

According to the WHO, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths were reported in 41 countries/territories last year. Cases were reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. According to the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration, in 2026, as of June 30, Guangdong Province has recorded 76 local cases.

Preventive measures to be taken by the public

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The CHP reminds members of the public to maintain good environmental hygiene, and to take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases such as DF and CF are endemic in various countries worldwide. The risk of importation persists. Members of the public should check the situation at their destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, whether travelling or not, 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 Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) 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 the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.

Source: AI-created image

Hong Kong Customs takes territory-wide law enforcement actions against illicit cigarette selling points

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts in Hong Kong since October 7. A total of about 120 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $540,000 and a duty potential of about $400,000, were seized. Ten persons were arrested.

During the operation, Customs officers disguised as customers conducted test buys at different cigarette retail points, including newsstands, stores and grocery shops. Some retail points were found to offer cigarettes for sale at a price less than the statutory duty imposed thereon. As at today (October 14), Customs has taken prompt enforcement actions against ten cigarette retail points in Tuen Mun, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan, Pok Fu Lam and North Point, and arrested shop owners and staff. Ten persons, comprising three men and seven women aged between 26 and 73, were arrested.

As part of the new phase of tobacco control measures, the Government gazetted the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) on September 19, 2025. Measures to combat illicit cigarettes, including raising the maximum penalty for relevant offences relating to duty-not-paid tobacco and requiring that cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proved to be duty-paid, came into immediate effect on the same day. Since the Amendment Ordinance was gazetted, Hong Kong Customs have conducted frequent patrols and mounted multiple enforcement operations including the decoy operations against cigarette retail points. A total of 38 cigarette retail points were dismantled with about 450 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes seized and 39 persons arrested. The judicial proceedings of 11 cases have been completed with custodial sentences ranging from four-week to six-month's imprisonments. The rest of the cases will also enter the judicial proceedings in due course.

The operation is still ongoing in different districts. Customs reminds cigarette retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources and stay alert to cigarettes supplied at a price less than the statutory duty. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), if a cigarette is offered for sale or supply at a consideration the value of which is less than the rate of duty imposed on the cigarette, the cigarette is dutiable goods. In addition, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs takes territory-wide law enforcement actions against illicit cigarette selling points Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs takes territory-wide law enforcement actions against illicit cigarette selling points Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases