Hong Kong plans new mosquito control trial after first dengue case since 2024

Hong Kong to deploy sterilised mosquitoes in 2025 after first local dengue case in over a year sparks concern. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Hong Kong plans new mosquito control trial after first dengue case since 2024

Contesto

Hong Kong announced plans to trial a novel mosquito control strategy next year, following the city’s first locally acquired case of dengue fever in more than a year. The approach, known as the “mosquito-to-control-mosquito” method, involves releasing male mosquitoes infected with a naturally occurring bacterium that prevents their offspring from reaching maturity. The announcement was made Sunday by Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Donald Ng Man-kit, who cited a faster-than-usual rise in the mosquito population this month as a key factor in the decision to act. The infected male mosquitoes, which do not bite humans, will be introduced in selected areas to mate with wild females. The bacteria, Wolbachia, causes the eggs laid by these females to fail to hatch, effectively reducing the insect population over time. The trial is part of a broader effort to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, which can cause severe flu-like symptoms and, in rare cases, lead to serious complications or death. Hong Kong has not recorded a local dengue case since 2024, but the recent infection has prompted health authorities to reassess their readiness. Ng noted that the government could lower the threshold for stepping up control measures, reflecting a more proactive stance against the threat. “The mosquito population has been rising more rapidly this month than in previous years,” he said, without providing specific figures. The city’s subtropical climate and recent rainfall have created favorable breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors for dengue. Health officials have urged residents to eliminate standing water and use repellents as an immediate precaution. The trial, expected to launch in early 2025, will be conducted in phases, starting with small, high-risk areas. Similar Wolbachia-based programs have been successfully implemented in cities such as Guangzhou, China, and Townsville, Australia, where they reduced local dengue transmission by up to 90%. Hong Kong’s strategy will be closely monitored by the World Health Organization, which has endorsed the method as a sustainable alternative to pesticides. Critics, however,...

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Categoria: cronaca