TABLE $
PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS CARRYING ANTIBODIES IN SERUM
Urbour Areas
Rural Areas
Type of Virus
Age
Age
under & 6 and over
AGE
Age under 6 ú erud over
Non-Chines
Type 1 Type 11 Type III
22%
56%
53%
31%
50% 40%
15% 15%
33%
37%
26% 45%
35%
11%
119. Under conditions of overcrowding, with large numbers of urban lenements served by some 43,000 bucket latrines and the use of almost untreated nightsoil as a fertilizer throughout the New Territories, natural infections must be widespread and continuing and only a very small minority of those infected develope paralysis. None the less, with the increasing birthrate and the gradual installation of water-borne sewerage in all new buildings, more 'infantile paralysis' will undoubtedly occur in the future unless steps are taken to ensure immunization of the most vulnerable age groups.
Scarlet Fever
120. Ten cases were reported in 1958 as against 5 in 1957. No death was recorded.
Whooping Cough
121. One hundred and ninety-seven cases were notified during the year as compared with 96 in the preceding year. 2 deaths were reported. Puerperal Fever
122. There were 4 cases with no deaths registered this year as against 2 cases with no deaths in 1957. Deliveries in connexion with these 4 cases took place in the home without the help of either a doctor or a qualified midwife. The sick mothers were later removed to hospital where a diagnosis of puerperal infection was made.
Vaccination and Inoculation Campaigns
123. Free prophylactic vaccinations against smallpox, typhoid and diphtheria were offered to members of the public throughout the year and were developed into large scale vaccination campaigns, preceded by propaganda, as circumstances warranted, Free vaccination against cholera was also available on request. Mobile vaccination teams con- tinued to be sent to Resettlement Estates and areas, factories, institutions and offices. Employers of labour are now co-operating well, as shown
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by an increasing number of requests received by the Epidemiologist for the prophylactic vaccination of employers and their families,
124. The anti-diphtheria campaign which commenced in August 1957 continued to operate until 14th January 1958. This was followed by an anti-typhoid inoculation campaign which lasted from 14th April till the end of June. Another mass vaccination campaign against diph- theria, using Alum Precipitated Toxoid, was started on 8th September. This continued until the end of March 1959 because of the continuing high incidence of diphtheria in the Colony. In between these campaigns, vaccination teams covered the New Territories and the fishing population and revisited the resettlement and other high density housing areas in the Colony.
125. Appendix 3 sets out the total numbers of prophylactic immun- izations carried out during the year,
PORT HEALTH
126. The Port Health Administration is responsible for the preven- tion of the introduction of infectious diseases into the Colony by sea. land, and air; for the sanitary control of the port areas and the airport; for the carrying out of the provision of the International Sanitary Regulations as embodied in the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance; for the compilation of epidemiological statistics and reports and for organizing prophylactic vaccination campaigns. There are also statutory responsibilities under the Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Ordinance and the Asiatic Emigration Ordinance,
127. Passengers and crews of incoming vessels were inspected at the two Quarantine Anchorages in Kowloon Bay and off Stonecutters Island: arrivals by air were inspected at Kai Tak Airport; and persons entering by the land frontier were checked at the Lo Wu Station Quarantine Post.
128. During the year the staff was increased by one Port Health Officer for the airport and one additional Public Vaccinator for duties on the 'Chee Hong' Floating Dispensary.
129. One Senior Health Inspector, two Health Inspectors, one Fumigator and two Rat-Scarchers carried out the fumigation and dis- insecting of cargo and ships; they also undertook sanitary duties in the port area and airport, including the collection and despatch of water samples to the Institute of Pathology for bacteriological examination.
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