Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced today that the Tsing Yi Nature Trails would reopen from this evening following the completion of environmental remediation work.
Owing to the fact that five local cases of Chikungunya Fever (CF) were contracted on the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or surrounding areas in late November, the CHP announced the temporary closure of the trails to the public on December 9.
The CHP highlighted that the last CF patient to contract the disease in the area visited the trails on November 30 and that no subsequent local cases have been recorded.
It also confirmed that infections connected to the trails did not result in the further transmission of CF in the community.
Over the past two months, relevant government departments have conducted multiple inspections to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and remove waste conducive to mosquito breeding.
In addition, intensive fogging operations have been conducted to eliminate adult mosquitoes and mosquito trapping devices have been installed along the trails.
Moreover, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has been monitoring mosquito infestation levels using mosquito traps along the trails. Data recorded over the past month indicates infestation levels remain at a low level.
The CHP today held an interdepartmental meeting to assess the situation. After evaluating environmental hygiene on the trails, it believes that they no longer pose a threat to public health.