ANTI-EPIDEMIC MEASURES
104. Anti-epidemic measures are under the control of an Epidemiologist but early in 1952 the Senior Port Health Officer took over this work in addition to his own duties.
105. His staff consists of 11 Public Vaccinators and 19 Inoculators who are trained nurses.
106. A new form for the notification of infectious disease was introduced last year and has proved satisfactory.
107. The anti-epidemic work consists mainly of immuniza- tion against smallpox, cholera, and diphtheria. The staffs of all food establishments are inoculated and vaccinated in due season. Also all staff of Government departments and the larger com- mercial firma are dealt with by teams which visit their offices. In addition the great body of squatters is given prophylaxis early, as it is there that the most explosive source of epidemics lies. This year a new scheme was adopted to allow a greater stress of anti-diphtheria prophylaxis-the year being divided into 8 periods of 4 months January to April-diphtheria; May to August-cholera; September to December-smallpox.
108. For the 5th year in succession there was no case of cholera. Plague remains absent, but continuous attention was paid to the examination and control of rats and preparation of flea indices in view of proximity to the hinterland where plague has been reported.
109. R. norvegicus is the more common type of rat found in the tenement houses. R. rattus is more common in ships but is also found in tenement houses. Final disposal of all rats is by burial.
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HEALTH EDUCATION
110. No further progress has been made with an actual Health Education programme for the Department itself, as all publicity work has been taken over by the Public Relations Officer. Nevertheless a considerable amount of teaching is done by lectures and demonstrations particularly in the Infant Wel- fare Section. Vaccinations and immunization campaigns are usually preceded by radio talks given in English and Chinese. Anti-spitting propaganda is well publicised by a film, prepared by the Cinema Association which is shown in over 40 picture houses. A special film on venereal diseases, prepared locally by this Department has been shown to male audiences. It is a film which has received special commendation, and may give some real results in the prevention of the disease, and the seeking of treatment at an early date. A specially fitted cinema van for the showing of pictures on hygiene and health problems has been a success throughout the year.
111. Series of lectures on hygiene have been given to the teachers in training at Northcote Training College who will thus be in a position to pass on this knowledge to pupils in due course.
PORT HEALTH
112. The main administrative officers of the Port Health Office are accommodated in the Marine Department Building. Three inoculation centres cater for the travelling public, two on the Hong Kong side, and one at Kowloon. The Airport section is housed in the Terminal Building at Kai Tak. At Lo Wu, the Port Health team is responsible for the quarantine inspection of travellers from Canton. The two quarantine anchorages at Kowloon Bay and Stonecutters Island are made use of through- out the year by vessels of all tonnages and flags.
113. During the year under review, the establishment of Assistant Port Health Officers remained constantly at seven.
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