HEALTH
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assessment early in 1962 by two leading British experts in the epidemiological and therapy fields.
There has been a great measure of success amongst the child population as a result of BCG vaccination. The death rate from all forms of tuberculosis in the under five age group fell by 84% during 1954-60 and the incidence of active pulmonary or bone and joint disease has been markedly reduced in young children. Details are set out in Appendix VII.
Venereal Diseases. The overall incidence of venereal diseases continued to fall during 1961, and this is also true of primary syphilis which had shown a slight increase in the previous two
years.
Although there was little change in the number of cases of chancroid and of non-gonococcal urethritis, decreases were recorded in the incidence of gonorrhoea and lymphogranuloma
venereum.
This continued improvement in the overall picture of venereal disease is attributable to expansion of the epidemiological control measures which consist of contact tracing, follow-up of defaulters from treatment and surveillance of patients after completion of treatment. In addition blood tests are freely available to all pregnant women and, as a result, mortality from congenital syphilis has been almost completely eliminated.
Leprosy. Fourteen out-patient sessions are held weekly through- out the Colony solely for the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy; in addition, four sessions are held at social hygiene centres in conjunction with dermatology and venereal disease clinics. New infectious cases and patients in reaction or in need of surgical rehabilitation are normally admitted to the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium maintained by the Hong Kong Auxiliary of the Mission to Lepers; in addition, a small number of beds is avail- able in Government hospitals for the orthopaedic treatment of deformities.
Dapsone continues to be the drug of choice for routine treat- ment of the disease, while diphenyl thiourea is available for patients showing intolerance to dapsone.
Epidemiological control is based on contact investigation, the follow-up of defaulters from treatment and the vaccination of