142
HEALTH
total births. The perinatal rate, the deaths of infants under one week of age, was 24.9 per 1,000 total births.
CHOLERA
Following the outbreak of cholera in 1961, and the continuing incidence of cholera in nearby countries, special preventive measures were taken throughout the year. These consisted of routine bacteriological investigation for cholera of all specimens sent to the laboratory from cases of gastro-enteritis, and the routine sampling of nightsoil, sea water, well water and foodstuffs liable to be sources of transmission of cholera vibrios. In addition a mass immunization campaign against cholera was carried out in February, March and April, during which 53 per cent of the population received doses of standard vaccine of 8,000 million organisms per millilitre. Particular attention was paid to the boat-people, residents in the New Territories, waterfront communities and school children. In these population groups the percentage inoculated ranged between 85 per cent and 95 per cent. In all over 1,600,000 inocula- tions were given. Quarantine restrictions were maintained in respect of the Philippines and Kwangtung Province in South China, and were applied to Taiwan when it was declared infected.
The first positive laboratory finding in Hong Kong during 1962 was from a case of suspected cholera admitted to the Lai Chi Kok Hospital on 22nd August. This was not an imported case and no contact with individuals coming recently from infected areas could be traced. The whole Colony was declared an infected local area on 23rd August, when the laboratory confirmation was received. Vibrio cholera El Tor was isolated, the strain being in all respects similar to those occurring in 1961. Between 23rd August and 20th September there were 10 cases of cholera, nine of which were confirmed bacteriologically. All cases were typical, the majority of the victims being severely ill. There was one death, the patient dying on admission to hospital after an illness lasting three days. All house contacts of the 10 clinical cases were isolated at the Chatham Road Quarantine Centre and among 126 contacts accommodated at the centre, only four contact carriers were detected. These were all contacts of the first case.
The usual environmental measures were applied, including in- creased chlorination of the public water supply, chlorination of all
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