Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted through bites of infected Aedes female mosquitoes.  The name “chikungunya” derives from a word in Kimakonde language of southern Tanzanian, meaning “to become contorted”, and describes the contorted posture of infected people with severe joint pain.  The disease has been identified in over 110 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Local Mosquito Vector

In Hong Kong, the commonly found mosquito, Aedes albopictus, can transmit chikungunya fever, as well as dengue fever and Zika virus infection.  Female Aedes albopictus are active throughout daylight hours with peak of activities in two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. 

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been conducting vector surveillance in selected areas throughout the territory and all major port areas for monitoring the activities of Aedes mosquitoes since 2000.  Gravidtrap is currently used as the tool for detecting the presence of Aedes albopictus.  The extensiveness of the distribution and density of Aedes albopictus at surveyed areas are reflected through the indices enumerated from the results of this surveillance.   Public can make reference to these indices for taking appropriate mosquito prevention and control actions. 

Please click here for details of Gravidtrap Survey and updated Gravidtrap Indices and Density Indices

Mosquito Prevention and Control

Mosquito Prevention

Advice to the public

• Tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
• Remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the sources;
• Change the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants no more than every 7 days, or avoid using saucers for potted plants;
• Properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquito from accessing the water;
• Properly dispose articles that are able to contain water such as empty lunch boxes, cans and tyres;
• Stop storing water along morning walk trains or Government land for irrigation;
• Make large holes on tyres used as anti-bumping measures in garage to prevent water trapping or use mark(s) on the parking space to prevent bumping instead;
• Pave or fill uneven ground and/or holes;
• Contact the district pest control offices or PCAS of FEHD, or pest control companies for assistance in mosquito control or prevention.

Advice to the management of construction sites

• Assign a staff for managing the control and prevention of mosquito in the site;
• Inspect and tidy up the construction site regularly, and remove any stagnant water inside the site at least once a week;
• Remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the source(s);
• Render the vertical poles in scaffolding unable to hold water by making holes at the ends or covering them up with appropriate materials;
• Dispose articles that are able to contain water such as empty lunch boxes, disused articles and tyres into covered container(s) and remove these articles from the site at least once a week;
• Carry out larviciding against mosquito breeding at potential mosquito breeding places which are inaccessible or cannot be eliminated;
• Pave/fill uneven ground and/or holes;
• Contact the district pest control offices or PCAS of FEHD, or pest control companies for assistance in mosquito control or prevention.

Mosquito Control

Adult Control

• Use mosquito trapping devices for trapping mosquitoes;
• Use mosquito coils or aerosol insect sprays to kill the mosquitoes;
• Kill mosquito with electrical devices designed for the purpose (Observe the safety precautions in using the device);
  
  

Larval Control

• Remove/destroy detected mosquito breeding places;
• Apply appropriate larvicides to kill the larvae;
• Keep mosquito eating fish in water features if appropriate.

Preventing mosquito bites are as crucial as eliminating mosquito breeding places and controlling the mosquito vectors to avoid contracting and spreading of the mosquito-borne diseases.

Prevention of Mosquito Bites

• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and trousers during outdoor activities;
• Apply insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535 on clothes or skin according to label instructions;
• Avoid applying odour-producing cosmetics such as perfume during outdoor activities;
• Install windows and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes;
• Use mosquito net for sleeping if necessary.