The Beijing Municipal Patriotic Health Campaign Committee and the Beijing Urban Environmental Development Committee have jointly issued the Beijing Three-Year Action Plan for Mosquito Prevention and Control (2026—2028). Starting from this year, Beijing will pilot the construction of "mosquito-free" urban areas in central districts, including mosquito-free communities, parks, and institutions. These control measures will be carried out during the following periods: June 22 to 26, July 27 to 31, August 24 to 28, and September 14 to 18.

It's important to note that "mosquito-free" does not mean "eliminating all mosquitoes", but rather reducing mosquito density in major outdoor activity areas to levels that do not pose a nuisance or public health concern through scientific, sustainable, and integrated management. The Beijing Municipal Health Commission recommends a "Five-Step Mosquito Prevention Method" to control mosquito breeding and harm at the source.

Step 1: Check for Water Accumulation

For this to work well, households, workplaces, and institutions are encouraged to inspect indoor and outdoor areas for standing water on a daily basis, including: plant saucers, bottles and jars, old buckets, empty cups, discarded containers, hallway floor drains, rooftops, parapet gutters, utility inspection chambers, and sewer openings.

Step 2: Remove Garbage

Remove all garbage that can hold standing water, including: discarded containers, construction waste, discarded plastic sheeting concealed in landscaped areas, disposable cups and bowls, etc.

Step 3: Empty, Clean, and Turn Over Containers

For unused containers, pour out standing water, clean, and turn them upside down. For containers used for aquatic plants, change the water, and rinse every five to seven days.

Step 4: Clear and Maintain Drainage Systems

Regularly clear drainage ditches, drains, rainwater pipes, and rooftop drainage areas; clean folds in tarpaulins that collect water; inspect all low-lying areas prone to water accumulation after rainfall.

Step 5: Cover and Seal

Containers that cannot be overturned should also be covered. It's best to install or maintain screen doors and window screens. You can also cover tires with tarpaulins and seal inspection well openings and holes with mosquito-proof seals.

The Beijing Municipal Health Commission has also issued a Technical Guide for Mosquito-Free Community Development, applicable to residential neighborhoods, older residential compounds, and urban-rural fringe residential areas.

1. Mosquito Breeding Site Management

Tip and overturn unused containers to remove standing water.

Remove litter and discarded items from landscaped areas and around buildings.

Keep water-storage containers covered; change water every 5-7 days.

Keep storm drains, catch basins, and drainage ditches clear and unobstructed.

Remove discarded tires.

Regularly inspect and remove standing water in underground utility chambers or any inspection chambers. If removal is not possible, just apply larvicide monthly.

For large water bodies, introduce larva-eating fish or apply biological larvicides.

2. Household Mosquito Prevention

Inspect and remove standing water weekly on balconies, windowsills, and rooftops.

You should remove discarded containers on the ground floor, overturning temporarily unused containers and keeping flowerpot saucers dry.

Use physical barriers such as screen doors, window screens, and mosquito nets for this to work best.

It's also recommended during this time to clean and replace pet water bowls daily. For aquatic plant containers, change water every five to seven days, rinse plant roots, and thoroughly scrub the inner surfaces of containers.

3. Management of Community Common Areas

Hallways, rooftops, and inspection wells: Keep rooftop drainage clear; inspect inspection well standing water every two weeks and apply larvicide as needed.

Green belts: Promptly remove all types of garbage; adopt appropriate irrigation practices to prevent water accumulation.

4. Adult Mosquito Control

When the number of mosquitoes in one community exceeds 1.5 mosquitoes per person for every 30 minutes, or when there is a risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission such as dengue fever, qualified vector-control service providers may be deployed to conduct space spraying and residual spraying to rapidly reduce adult mosquitoes. Insecticide application should also be scheduled during evening mosquito peak activity hours, avoiding periods of high public activity.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)