Dengue Fever Cases Rise: Public Urged to Enhance Mosquito Control and Hygiene Practices

Update on dengue fever

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 29) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

From November 22 to yesterday (November 28), the CHP recorded five DF cases. Four of them were imported cases. The patients had travelled to Guangdong Province (one case each for Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhongshan) and the Philippines (one case) during their incubation periods. The remaining case was thelocal DF caseannounced by the CHP yesterday. The CHP, together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, will hold a health talk at 6pm today at the Lung Hang Estate Community Centre, which is close to the home of the patient concerned. During the talk, the CHP will also conduct a free DF antibody test for people in the district with relevant symptoms.

As of yesterday, 155 cases of DF, including 150 imported and five local cases, had been recorded in 2024. In 2023, 62 imported cases of DF were recorded.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2023, ongoing transmissions, combined with an unexpected spike in DF cases, had resulted in close to a historic high of over 6.5 million cases, and more than 7 300 dengue-related deaths reported in over 80 countries/territories. Since the beginning of 2024, the WHO has recorded over 13 million cases, reaching a record number of cases.

The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) compared to the same period last year.

According to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, the number of DF cases recorded in Guangdong Province in the past three months remains at a high level. Most of the cases were locally acquired infection. Information from the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention further showed that in the past week from November 18 to 24, over 500 local DF cases were recorded, with the highest numbers of cases recorded in Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang and Zhuhai.

In addition, the number of DF cases in Macao has been increasing recently. Since the first local case of this year reported on October 23, nine local cases have been reported in Macao as of yesterday.

Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

The continued occurrence of DF cases outside Hong Kong, coupled with the frequent travel by residents to and from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and other areas, has resulted in an increased risk of importing DF cases into Hong Kong, posing a risk of local transmission.

"Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to a doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:

Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;

Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;

Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;

Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;

Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;

Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and

Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers, and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

​DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:

Read the label instructions carefully first;

Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;

Apply on exposed skin and clothing;

Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;

Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and

Reapply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook PageandYouTube Channel.

Monetary statistics for October 2024

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

According to statistics published today (November 29) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions remained virtually unchanged in October 2024. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 0.4 per cent, while foreign currency deposits decreased by 0.3per cent in October. In the year to end-October, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits grew by 5.8per cent and 2.8per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong decreased by 5.8per cent in October to RMB957.8 billion at the end of October, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB 1,218.0 billion in October, compared with RMB1,267.2 billion in September. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.

Total loans and advances decreased by 1.1per cent in October, and decreased by 3.2per cent in the year to end-October. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) and loans for use outside Hong Kong both decreased by 1.1per cent in October. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 77.5per cent at the end of October from 78.4per cent at the end of September, as Hong Kong dollar deposits increased while Hong Kong dollar loans decreased.

Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 0.3per cent in October and both increased by 3.7per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased by 1.2per cent in October and increased by 3.4per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 0.2per cent in October. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 8.6 per cent.

As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal and IPO-related funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.