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Matthew Cheng

Hong Kong will try out a “mosquito-to-control-mosquito” strategy next year, under which the insect males are infected with bacteria to prevent their offspring from reaching maturity, following the city’s first local dengue fever case in over a year.
Announcing the strategy on Sunday, Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Donald Ng Man-kit said the government would consider stepping up mosquito control measures with a lower threshold, as the population of the insects had risen more rapidly this month.
The first locally recorded dengue fever case since 2024 was reported last week, involving a 21-year-old man who was bitten by mosquitoes near a road construction site in Penny’s Bay on Lantau Island.
Authorities have carried out mosquito control and other preventive measures at the site and in the surrounding area.
Explaining the plan in a televised interview, Ng said that by infecting the males with a designated bacterium, any offspring produced after mating would fail to reach maturity.
He added that the strategy was expected to reduce the overall mosquito population.
Ng said scientific institutes in mainland China and Hong Kong had already begun preliminary work, with trials expected to start early next year.
Last year, the Environment and Ecology Bureau also pledged to explore a “mosquito-eat-mosquito” strategy used in Foshan, Guangdong province, to curb chikungunya fever. The method involves breeding elephant mosquitoes in laboratories and releasing them “proportionally” in waterlogged areas.
The insects prey on the larvae of the Asian tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, a species that spreads chikungunya fever.
Ng noted that the Gravidtrap Index, which monitors the distribution and breeding of Aedes albopictus, had already exceeded 20 per cent in several districts this month – a level not reached until May last year.

“Average temperatures this April were higher than last year, and rainfall also increased,” he said.
Under current policy, the department strengthens anti-mosquito work in a district if its Area Gravidtrap Index exceeds 10 per cent, including intensified mosquito control operations and public education.
Ng said that while the department had been persistent in its efforts, it would consider lowering the threshold that triggered intensified measures.
“We will assess the situation dynamically and consider lowering the threshold based on actual needs,” he said.
He added that the department would engage the industry next month and issue guidelines to help restaurants comply with regulations regarding a new policy allowing up to 1,000 venues to welcome dogs from June.
However, Ng stressed that the guidelines would serve as a reminder, and breaching them would not constitute a violation of licensing conditions.
He added that while restaurants were responsible for cleaning up dog excrement, the guidelines would state that they could charge necessary cleaning fees, provided customers were clearly informed in advance.
Restaurants will also be barred from allowing dogs to use customer utensils. Ng said authorities would consider whether the restaurant had issued a warning if pet owners fed dogs with such utensils before taking enforcement action.
With the new law coming into effect on May 8, the first batch of restaurants is expected to receive licences by June, with about 500 to 1,000 eateries included in the initial phase.
Ng said no overall cap had been set for pet-friendly restaurants, adding that the quota would be reviewed based on the scheme’s implementation and the catering sector’s response.


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‘Mosquito-to-control-mosquito’ strategy will be deployed next year, as government considers stepping up control measures


‘Mosquito-to-control-mosquito’ strategy will be deployed next year, as government considers stepping up control measures.


Hong Kong plans new trial of infecting male mosquitoes to halt offspring growth

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Mosquito-to-control-mosquito’ strategy will be deployed next year, as government considers stepping up control measures

‘Mosquito-to-control-mosquito’ strategy will be deployed next year, as government considers stepping up control measures