SOCIAL SERVICES
with 1951. Of the 201 cases of amoebic dysentery, 76 or 37.8% were non-Chinese, and of the 336 cases of bacillary dysentery, 66 or 19.6% were non-Chinese.
(c) Diphtheria.
The incidence of this infection has risen steadily since 1949 and was accentuated during 1952, as shown in the following table :--
Year
Cases
Deaths
Case fatality rate
1946
161
62
38.5%
1947
122
52
42.6%
1948
140
49
35.0%
1949
261
75
28.7%
1950
524.
135
25.8%
1951
574
121
21.1%
1952
987
157
15.9%
In spite of the increased case incidence there has been a substantial drop in the case fatality rate which reflects an awakening of the public to the importance of seeking early and proper medical treatment. Never- theless, only too often, cases brought to the clinics and hospitals are in extremis and treatment in such cases is not always successful.
Throughout the year immunization of infants and children against this infection continued steadily and some 65,000 children received a first injection, but only 33,332 returned for the necessary second injection. At the end of the year plans were well advanced for an intensive campaign to encourage immunization during the first quarter of 1953.
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