Question No. 4
Reply by Dr. the Hon. Rudy Khoo, J.P., Ag. Director of Medical & Health Services, to Question by Dr. the Hon. Henrietta Ip in Legislative Council on 10.7.85
Question : Could Government inform this Council whether there has
been an increase in the number of malaria cases in Hong Kong in recent years and, if so, what preventive measures have been taken?
Sir,
The answer to the first part of Dr. Ip's question is 'Yes'.
The increase in the number of malaria cases notified in Hong Kong
corresponds with the global situation of malaria, particularly among
Asian countries. However, I should like to add that in Hong Kong the
increase occurred mainly among the imported cases which occupy about
90% of all the malaria cases reported. Thus, in 1981, 1982, 1983, and
1984, the number of imported cases were 61, 77, 94 and 101 respectively,
whilst the number of indigenous cases were 1, 1, 30, and 10 respectively.
In the first six months of this year, there were 72 imported cases and
1 indigenous case of malaria.
Since October 1983, an Inter-departmental Co-ordinating
Committee on Malaria, consisting of consultants and senior administrators
in my Department as well as representatives from the Urban Services
Department, the Government Information Service and the Headquarters
British Forces, has been established to monitor the situation and
co-ordinate control measures on malaria. The Committee has, inter
alia, prepared an 'Operational Manual on the Investigation and Management
of Malaria' for the guidance of the medical and other staff. It has
also made recommendations on the prevention and control of malaria.
/P. 2.