Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tsing Yi Nature Trails reopens this evening following completion of environmental remediation work
Reopening of Tsing Yi Nature Trails
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Given that five local cases of Chikungunya Fever (CF) had acquired the infection in the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or its surrounding area in late November last year, the CHP held a interdepartmental meeting in early December last year with representatives from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department, the Drainage Services Department, the Lands Department, and the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and announced the temporary closure of the trails to the public on December 9 last year to facilitate large-scale mosquito control and environmental remediation work by relevant government departments to minimise the mosquito infestation and safeguard public health.
The last local CF case related to the Tsing Yi Nature Trails visited the trails on November 30, 2025. Subsequently, no other local cases have been recorded. The CHP’s case tracing also confirmed that local cases infected along the trails did not further spread in the local community. The relevant transmission chain was interrupted. Over the past two months, the aforementioned government departments have conducted comprehensive environmental remediation and mosquito control along the trails. The trails stretch approximately seven kilometres, with various natural or man-made breeding grounds for vectors in the complex surroundings, including discarded containers left by hikers and workers, miscellaneous items and garbage that could collect water, and puddles on soil surfaces. The government departments concerned have conducted multiple inspections to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and remove waste conducive to mosquito breeding. Intensive fogging operations continue to eliminate adult mosquitoes and mosquito trapping devices have been installed along the trails. At the same time, the FEHD has been monitoring the mosquito infestation levels using mosquito traps along the trails. Data recorded over the past month has remained at a low level.
The CHP held another interdepartmental meeting today to assess the latest situation. After evaluating the current environmental hygiene of the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, the CHP believes that the Tsing Yi Nature Trails no longer pose a threat to public health. Therefore, the Tsing Yi Nature Trails will be reopened this evening. The FEHD will continue to enhance the vector surveillance at the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and in the surrounding area.——————————————————-
As of 5pm today, no new cases of CF had been recorded. Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed CF cases so far this year, all of which were imported cases. Last year, Hong Kong recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases. Among them, 11 were local cases and the rest were imported cases. The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP
In view of the reduced risk of Chikungunya virus transmission in Hong Kong, the CHP will henceforth release the number of imported cases of mosquito-borne diseases (including dengue fever and CF) recorded over the preceding seven days every Friday. Monthly statistics on confirmed CF cases will also be uploaded to the “Number of notifiable infectious diseases by month” page of the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24012.htmlIssued at HKT 18:16
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