لیا
SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1987
+ IN VIEW OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF HONG KONG, IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE IMPORTATION OF MALARIA PARASITES CARRIERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HOWEVER, HE URGED TRAVELLERS TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES, PARTICULARLY PERSONAL PROTECTION, AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES WHEN THEY VISIT MALARIA ENDEMIC COUNTRIES, WHICH INCLUDE CHINA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN AND VARIOUS SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
IF BITTEN BY MOSQUITOES, TRAVELLERS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR MALARIA SYMPTOMS SUCH AS A CHILL OR FEVER AND SEEK EARLY TREATMENT IF THESE APPEAR.
INTENDING TRAVELLERS CAN OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ON MALARIA ENDEMIC COUNTRIES FROM THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ONLY EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL WAY IN WHICH HONG KONG CAN PROTECT ITSELF AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF MALARIA CASES IS THROUGH AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF SURVEILLANCE, CONSISTING OF CASE DETECTION, TREATMENT, INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIAL ACTION. THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED SUCH A SYSTEM.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED RESIDENTS TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHEN VISITING RURAL AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BECAUSE MALARIA
IS TRANSMITTED BY ANOPHELINE MOSQUITOES WHICH ARE FOUND IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
PEOPLE GOING CAMPING OR TO PICNIC AREAS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE PLANNING TO STAY OVERNIGHT, SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIONS, LIKE WEARING LONG TROUSERS AND LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS OR COATS AND ALSO USE INSECT REPELLENTS. IN ADDITION,
IN ADDITION, THEY SHOULD ALSO USE MOSQUITO NETS OR SCREENS.
+BUT THE BEST PREVENTIVE MEASURES WOULD BE TO STOP MOSQUITOES FROM BREEDING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MOSQUITOES TRANSMITTING MALARIA BREED IN CLEAR WATER STREAMS AND STAGNANT WATER WITH VEGETATION, THEY ARE MOSTLY FOUND IN IRRIGATION DITCHES, HILL STREAMS, EXCAVATION SITES AND ABANDONED PADDY FIELDS.
+MALARIA IS A NOTIFIABLE DISEASE AND EVERY CASE NOTIFIED WILL BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT AS TO THE POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFECTION, HE SAID.
BLOOD SAMPLES ARE TAKEN FROM PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL SYMTOMS CF MALARIA, AND ALL CASES ARE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
AFTER TREATMENT