By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) – Hong Kong announced on Saturday that it will use robotic dogs to help control the spread of the chikungunya virus, as imported cases continue to rise.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said the government will begin a trial next month.
“Starting from next month, we will conduct a trial using a robotic dog to spray insecticide on hillsides and other places that are difficult for control teams to access,” Tse told reporters, according to the South China Morning Post.
"This initiative is aimed at reducing the burden on frontline staff during hot weather. If the trial proves successful, more robotic dogs will be deployed, and the government will continue to research other new mosquito-control methods," he added.
Tse added that the strategy mirrors steps taken during past dengue fever outbreaks and expressed confidence that chikungunya could also be contained. He did warn, however, that the number of cases could increase due to the city's heavy tourist traffic.
According to official figures, the mosquito-borne disease has spread globally this year, with approximately 240,000 cases and 90 deaths reported in 16 countries and territories across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
In 2025, China's southern Guangdong province recorded the most cases in Asia, with nearly 8,000.