The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on Sunday stepped up mosquito control efforts in Kwun Tong following Hong Kong's first imported case of chikungunya fever in six years.

FEHD officers sprayed mosquito repellent around flowerbeds at On Tat Estate, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. Local district councillors and care teams joined the effort, distributing mosquito repellent stickers and leaflets to residents, encouraging them to take precautions.

The initiative came after a 12-year-old boy contracted the disease during a trip to Foshan, where an outbreak has been reported. The boy is currently in stable condition in hospital.

Some residents expressed concerns about the spread of chikungunya fever.

"There are many cases in Foshan. My son is young and often gets bitten by mosquitoes, so I won’t take him to the mainland these days," a woman who lives in On Tat Estate said.

"It will be troublesome if he gets infected. Of course I’m worried, so we are also going to parks less often,” she added.

Others said they were not worried because the disease is only spread via mosquitoes.

"The government has explained that the disease is spread by mosquitoes, not from person to person. So, why worry? I was just in Foshan for two days, and honestly, there's no point in being scared. Mosquitoes are everywhere! If we do get infected, we should just see a doctor,” a man said.

Some district councillors have said that the FEHD and the Housing Department will carry out a district-wide mosquito control operation once the weather improves.

The Centre for Health Protection, meanwhile, said there were no new chikungunya fever infections recorded as of 5pm on Sunday, adding that the disease is unlikely to become endemic in the city.
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Last updated: 2025-08-03 HKT 18:26