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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1975
FROM THE NUMBER 1 SPOT IN THE LIST OF COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH IN HONG KONG FOR MANY YEARS, TUBERCULOSIS HAS NOW RECEDED TO THE SIXTH.
+ IT IS EVIDENT THAT FEWER NEW CASES HAVE NOW BEEN REPORTED, LESS PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS, AND THOSE WHO DIE ARE NO LONGER VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, IN FACT, THE AVERAGE AGE OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IS NOW ABOUT 30 YEARS,+ SAID DR. CHOA.
AS FOR OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DR. CHOA SAID THE INCIDENCE OF DIPHTHERIA WHICH REACHED ITS PEAK IN 1959 WITH 2,087 CASES AND 116 DEATHS HAD BEEN REDUCED TO ONE AND TWO CASES IN 1973 AND 1974 RESPECTIVELY, WITH NO DEATHS.
POLIO, WHICH CLAIMED 52 DEATHS IN 1962 HAS NOW BEEN ELIMINATED WITH NO CASES REPORTED LAST YEAR.
IN SOCIAL HYGIENE SERVICE, THE DIRECTOR SAID IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY SUCCESS IN TREATING VENEREAL DISEASES AGAINST WHICH THERE IS AS YET NO VACCINE.
HOWEVER, TREATMENT FOR ALL TYPES OF VENEREAL DISEASES IS FREELY AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S SPECIAL CLINICS WHERE ROUTINE EXAMINATION IS ALSO CONDUCTED FOR THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY.
ON THE WHOLE, SAID DR. CHOA, THE INCIDENCE OF ALL VENEREAL DISEASES, WITH SYPHLIS AND GONORRHOEA BEING THE TWO COMMONEST, HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE, DROPPING FROM 19,257 CASES IN 1955 TO 9,543 LAST YEAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF DR. CHOA'S SPEECH ARE AVAILABLE AT THE GIS PRESS BOX FOR COLLECTION.
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