Transcript Indoor Air Quality in Hong Kong

Prevention of
Mosquito-borne Diseases
Central Health Education Unit
June 2007
Prevention of
mosquito-borne diseases
Work of the Government

To prevent mosquito-borne diseases
effectively relies on the support and cooperation of both public and private
sectors with the government.
Work of the Government
Publicity and Health Education

Provide health education on personal
protection against mosquito-borne
diseases for general public.

Publicize personal protection against
mosquito-borne diseases for travellers.

Latest updates on dengue fever for
healthcare workers through periodicals,
mails and internet.
Disease surveillance

Dengue fever, Japanese
encephalitis and Malaria have
been brought into one of the
statutory notifiable diseases.

web-based Central Notification
Office (CENO On-line)
Disease surveillance

Contact tracing, epidemiological
investigations on disease outbreaks.

Liaise with relevant department, e.g.
Food and Environmental Department
for following up control measures.

Collaborate with other departments
and Hospital Authority in formulating
response measures to prevent local
spread of Dengue fever.
Disease surveillance


Maintain close liaison with nearby
regions and oversea countries.
Make announcement to general
public on reported cases and
disease situation of nearby regions
and remind public of preventive
measures.
Prevention of
mosquito-borne diseases
Personal Protection
Personal Protection

The best protection is to avoid being
bitten by mosquitoes by paying
attention to the following:
Avoid staying in dark, outdoor
places such as brushwood, pavilions,
or the shade of a tree during the
hours when Aedes albopictus is
active.
Personal Protection

Avoid going out in the
hours when Aedes
albopicuts feed or wear
light-coloured, longsleeves clothing and
trousers.
Personal Protection

Install mosquito nets
to doors and windows
so that mosquitoes
can’t get in.
Personal Protection
Accommodation should
have air-conditioners or
mosquito nets
 Hang mosquito screens
around your bed
 Use of mosquito coil

Personal Protection
Choosing the insect repellents

DEET containing products, such as
repellents, anti-mosquito patches and
spray are generally most effective
to avoid mosquito bites.

Citronella, Soybean oil and 3-[NButyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid
containing products also have
mosquito repellent effects.

Portable ultrasonic devices are less
reliable when compared with DEET.
Safety tips on using
repellents that contain
DEET (1)

Avoid applying high DEET
concentration products (i.e. >35%)

Always read and follow the
instruction label carefully
before using repellents.
Safety tips on using
repellents that contain DEET (2)


As rare reports about application of
repellents with DEET associated with
seizures in young children, therefore the
low concentration product (10% DEET)
should be used on children.
DEET is not recommended for use on
infants less than 2 months of age. They
should use mosquito net for health
protection (e.g. infant carrier draped with
elastic edge mosquito net).
Safety tips on using repellents
that contain DEET (3)

Never use repellents over wounds or irritated skin.

Apply the repellent on exposed skin surfaces only
or on top of clothing. Do not use under clothing.
Do not attach the anti-mosquito patches directly
on the skin if it is specifically for clothing.

Wash repellent-treated skin with soap and water
when you come indoors.
When using sprays, do not spray directly on face
spray on hands first and then apply to face. Do
not apply to eyes or mouth.

Prevention of
mosquito-borne diseases
Elimination of Mosquitoes
The most effective way to
eliminate mosquitoes is to：
 Keep the environment clean.
 Remove stagnant water so
that mosquitoes can’t breed.
Possible Breeding Grounds of
Aedes Albopictus (1)
Artificial containers:
Vases, saucers underneath flower
pots, trays underneath airconditioners, buckets jars and jugs
of earthenware, cement troughs,
dumped tyres and solid wastes such
as cans, disposable cups and bowls,
and plastic bags.
Possible Breeding Grounds of
Aedes Albopictus (2)
Natural containers:
The hollow space inside a
bamboo, hollows of a tree
and the rachis of a leaf.
Elimination of Mosquitoes

Cover water containers
tightly so that
mosquitoes can’t get in
to lay eggs.
Elimination of Mosquitoes

Dispose of domestic
wastes, empty bottles,
cans and lunch boxes
properly into a covered
bin to prevent the
accumulation of stagnant
water.
Elimination of Mosquitoes
Change water for vases
and aquatic plants at
least once a week,
leaving no water under
the pots or in the
bottom saucers.
 Scrub the container
surfaces thoroughly to
prevent mosquito eggs
sticking on them.

Elimination of Mosquitoes

Remove or
puncture any
dumped tyres to
prevent the
accumulation of
stagnant water.
Elimination of Mosquitoes
Keep ditches free from blockage.
Elimination of Mosquitoes
Fill up uneven ground surfaces to
prevent the accumulation of stagnant
water.
Elimination of Mosquitoes

Remove stagnant
water immediately if
mosquitoes are found
to be breeding. Use
environmentally
friendly insecticides
such as lavicidal oil if
necessary.
Elimination of Mosquitoes

In cultivation ponds,
water tanks or large
containers, biological
controls such as
keeping fishes to eat
mosquito larvae
would be a good
option.
Mosquito Elimination Checklist (1)


Are containers and other items
where water could accumulate
disposed of properly? (For
example, throwing empty cans,
foam rubber boxes, cups and
bottles into a covered bin)
Are water containers covered
properly?
Mosquito Elimination Checklist (2)



Are ditches free from blockage？
Are containers with stagnant water
cleaned regularly？(For example, vases,
saucers underneath flower pots, water
storage device of an air-conditioner,
water tanks and pools）
Are uneven ground surfaces filled to
prevent the accumulation of stagnant
water？
Seek medical consultation
immediately

Having been bitten by a
mosquito and displaying
symptoms afterwards

Falling ill, especially having
a fever within one month
after you have returned
from abroad
Enquiries/Websites
Centre for Health Protection,
Department of Health (www.chp.gov.hk)
 Hong Kong Traveller’s Health Service,
Department of Health
(www.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html)
 24-Hour Health Education Hotline,
Department of Health (2833 0111)
 Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Hotline : 2868 0000
Website : www.fehd.gov.hk

Elimination of mosquito is the most
effective prevention strategy
Let’s remove stagnant
water and eliminate
mosquitoes