WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1975
TYPHOID FEVER CASES CLARIFIED
*****
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN CLARIFICATION OF THE REPORTED INCREASE IN TYPHOID FEVER CASES IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
+TYPHOID FEVER HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN HONG KONG IN AN ENDEMIC FORM, 1.E. THE DISEASE OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF WHICH FLUCTUATES, SUBJECT TO SEASONAL VARIATION.
+THE DISEASE IS KEPT CONSTANTLY UNDER SURVEILLANCE ALL THE YEAR ROUND AND THE PUBLIC IS INFORMED OF THE OCCURRENCE THROUGH MONTHLY HEALTH BULLETINS. ROUTINE ADVICE IN REGARD TO PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IS GIVEN FROM TIME TO TIME, PARTICULARLY JUST BEFORE THE WARM SEASON WHEN THE INCIDENCE IS EXPECTED TO RISE. DETAILED ANALYSES OF THE OCCURRENCE OF CASES ARE ALSO MADE AS A ROUTINE AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE INFORMED OF ANY SPECIAL MEASURES THAT MAY BY CONSIDERED NECESSARY,
+IN THIS CONNECTION, IT IS NOTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TYPHOID CASES REPORTED IN JANUARY
AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. THE CASES REPORTED SO FAR HAMNUARY
OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AS THERE IS NO CONCENTRATION OF CASES IN ANY PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. AN ANALYSIS IN REGARD TO THE NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS PER WEEK SHOWS THAT THE PEAK WAS IN THE WEEK ENDING 22ND FEBRUARY WITH 27 CASES. HOWEVER, THERE WERE REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR WEEKS OF MARCH, DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF WHICH THE NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS HAS RETURNED TO THE SAME NORMAL LEVEL (10 CASES) AS OBSERVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THUS AT PRESENT THE INCIDENCE MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL FOR THE LAST FORTNIGHT. HOWEVER, THE TREND IS BEING KEPT UNDER CLOSE OBSERVATION.
+AS TO THE DISEASE ITSELF. THIS IS CONTRACTED THROUGH THE CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED FOOD OR DRINK AND OCCURS USUALLY AS A RESULT OF NEGLECT IN PERSONAL AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.
+EMPHASIS SHOULD THEREFORE BE ON THE OBSERVANCE OF GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE, E.G. WASHING HANDS BEFORE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND AFTER VISITING TOILET, CAREFUL SELECTION OF THE SOURCES OF FOOD AND DRINK, PROTECTION OF WATER FROM CONTAMINATION PARTICULARLY WHEN STORED IN CONTAINERS, AND PAYING GREATER ATTENTION TO PROPER SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.+
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