SFH speaks on mosquito control work

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session after inspecting the mosquito prevention and control work in Sha Tin District with the Sha Tin District-led Actions Scheme Steering Group of Hygiene Improvement with Enhanced Anti-Mosquitos/Grass-Cutting today (September 11):

Reporter: What are the determining factors for you to decide that Lion Rock Park can be opened to the public again? Are you worried that the public is being complacent now that the outbreak has stabilised?

Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, we have less confirmed cases in the past few weeks. And in fact, in the past week, we do not have any new confirmed cases. On one hand, we felt the situation is more or less under control but on the other hand, I think the public should continue to be very vigilant about their own mosquito prevention work. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to do our mosquito control work. If you remember, I announced that the Government has put in additional resources, $4 million, for the 18 districts to buy more equipment, to increase manpower, as well as to do more public education. So the increase in resources and the mosquito control work will continue in the 18 districts. We felt that the most important work in controlling dengue fever is mosquito control.

     As far as the Lion Rock Park is concerned, it was closed on August 17. We are now assessing the situation both on whether there is any new case, as well as the effectiveness of the mosquito control work by the FEHD.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)