Hong Kong Public Relaxed About Mosquitos and Disease

A minority of the Hong Kong population are taking any precaution against mosquito-borne diseases, despite Government attempts to raise awareness, according to results from Synovate. Dengue Fever is the most widely considered with 71 per cent of the population aware of it but still only 17% reporting concern about it.

The study found that 63 per cent of Hong Kong's population is not taking any precautionary measures against mosquito-borne diseases. Forty-two per cent of the remainder have purchased or use an insect repellent spray or cream, 34 per cent have purchased or use household repellent products like plug-in repellent, mosquito zappers or burners and 11 per cent use a fan.

Small percentages report any change in their activities out of concern over diseases. 21 per cent say they avoid travelling overseas, 13 per cent avoid the countryside and eight per cent water sports. Another eight per cent claim this is their reason for doing no gardening, although their spouses may not agree with them.

23 per cent of respondents could not name a mosquito-borne disease without prompting. Almost all the remainder - 71 per cent of the total - could name Dengue Fever, with 19 per cent naming Malaria and 14 per cent Japanese Encephalitis. Women are more likely to be familiar with the symptoms of these diseases than men.

Most people think that the prevention measures and promotion activities carried out by the Government to prevent mosquito-borne diseases are sufficient.

Jill Telford, Managing Director of Synovate Hong Kong, says the results demonstrate an attitude of 'it won't happen to me' regarding this category of disease. 'It seems the Government is doing quite a good job in terms of raising awareness - particularly with their Dengue Fever campaign - but people just don't seem to be feeling a 'buzz' about mosquitoes! They are not converting their awareness into action.

'This is one of the real challenges that face organisations wanting to change the long-term habits of entire cities of people. People seem to need to see a real threat - as they did with SARS - before they change their behaviour'.

Results are based on telephone responses from around 1,000 people between the ages of 15 and 64, as part of the AsiaBUS telephone survey. The study was conducted in July 2003 and the data was weighted to reflect the Hong Kong domestic population.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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