Environment minister Tse Chin-wan says they will be used to carry and spray mosquito insecticide in areas that are difficult for control teams to access on foot
Hong Kong will deploy robotic dogs as part of its enhanced mosquito-control efforts to curb the chikungunya virus, as the number of imported cases is expected to rise, the environment chief has said.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan revealed the new measure on Saturday after the number of imported cases of the mosquito-borne disease increased to nine the previous day.
He said the government was exploring the use of new technology, including trialling a robotic dog next month. It will be used to carry and spray mosquito insecticide in rugged areas that are difficult for control teams to access on foot.
“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,” he told a radio programme.
