Delay in mosquito monitoring system needs to be fixed, says Hong Kong microbiologist as he calls city’s dengue fever infection rate ‘a bit intimidating’

University of Hong Kong’s Dr Ho Pak-leung calls on government to act as available data on mosquito numbers is always a month behind

Reading Time:2 minutes

Employees from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department begin mosquito control work at Tung Tau Estate in Wong Tai Sin. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 2:42pm, 18 Aug 2018Updated: 11:44pm, 18 Aug 2018

A top microbiologist in Hong Kong has urged the government to introduce real-time monitoring of mosquitoes that could spread dengue fever in the city, as authorities on Saturday discovered four additional cases of those infected with the virus.

Calls from University of Hong Kong expert Dr Ho Pak-leung came after the city recorded 15 cases of people who had been infected locally with the virus between Tuesday and Saturday.

The sudden surge of local cases of the mosquito-borne disease prompted the government to close Lion Rock Park on Friday evening. It will remain shut for 30 days as officials implement a thorough mosquito control programme.

Dr Ho Pak-leung has called on the government to introduce a real-time monitoring system. Photo: Edward Wong

The park, which was visited by 13 of the 15 people infected, was believed to be the source of infection for most cases.

Of the four additional cases on Saturday, two patients worked at the park. The other two – a 69-year-old woman and 61-year-old man – also visited the park frequently for walks during the incubation period.

Describing the fact there was more than one source of local infections as “a bit intimidating”, Ho said the government should improve its mosquito surveillance system.