(i) Plague.
M 8
(b) Infectious diseases.
Plague continues to remain absent from these territories, although reports are received from time to time of its existence in epidemic proportions in various parts of China, including the Fukien Province, Hainan, etc., and there is always a possibility of it reappearing with all the severity that accompanied the first historical outbreak of 1894. Infection has been absent since 1929.
(ii) Cholera.
Cholera was one of the legacies of disturbed conditions in the Far East. The disease was first recognised in July, although it is significant that notifications of dysentery had already shown a marked increase in June. Bangkok had suffered from a severe epidemic during the first half of the year with 1902 cases and 989 deaths. During the first ten days of July over 100 cases were reported at Hoihow in South China, and on the 22nd of the month the body of a coolie who had died from cholera was landed at Hong Kong from the S.S. "Kwong Tung" coming from Hoihow. On the following day a student arrived from Canton and died of the disease in Kowloon Hospital. Sporadic cases, totalling thirteen in all, were reported from various parts of Victoria in July. The disease became epidemic with almost startling suddenness in August when nearly 1,100 cases were found many refugees probably having brought the infection with them. In September rather over 500 cases occurred followed by an almost equally sudden drop to seventy-two in October, eight in November and a single one in December. Further details are given in "III Hygiene & Sanitation", suffice it to say that the outbreak affected 1,690 persons of whom 1,082 died, a mortality rate of sixty-four per centum.
(iii) Smallpox.
Cases of smallpox were notified in Hong Kong during every month of 1937 except October. The largest number for any single month were encountered in April. A second fastigium occurred in December and this heralded what proved later to be the most serious outbreak within living memory. The yearly total was 129 cases notified of which ninety-four died. There can be little doubt that many cases missed detection owing to successful concealment and to a quite ineffective system of house-to-house visits.
The yearly incidence of smallpox during the preceding fourteen years is of interest for purposes of comparison with that of 1937.
Year | Cases | Year | Cases
1923 1320 1930 15 1924 913 1931 248 1925 66 1932 566 1926 49 1933 153 1927 149 1934 61 1928 616 1935 23 1929 977 1936 270(i) Plague.
M 8
(b) Infectious diseases.
Plague continues to remain absent from these territories, although reports are received from time to time of its existence in epidemic proportions in various parts of China, including the Fukien Province, Hainan, etc., and there is always a possibility of it reappearing with all the severity that accompanied the first historical outbreak of 1894. Infection has been absent since 1929.
(ii) Cholera.
Cholera was one of the legacies of disturbed conditions in the Far East. The disease was first recognised in July, although it is significant that notifications of dysentery had al- ready shown a marked increase in June. Bangkok had suffered fron a severe epidemic during the first half of the year with 1902 cases and 989 deaths. During the first ten days of July over 100 cases were reported at Hoihow in South China, and on the 22nd of the month the body of a coolie who had died from cholera was landed at Hong Kong from the S.S. "Kwong Tung" coming from Hoihow. On the following day a student arrived fron Canton and died of the disease in Kowloon Hospital. Sporadic cases, totalling thirteen in all, were reported from various parts of Victoria in July. The disease became epidemic with alinost startling suddenness in August when nearly 1,100 cases were found many refugees probably having brought the infection with them. In September rather over 500 cases occurred followed by an almost equally sudden drop to seventy- two in October, eight in November and a single one in December. Further details are given in "III Hygiene & Sanitation", suffice it to say that the outbreak affected 1,690 persons of whom 1,082 died, a mortality rate of sixty-four per centum.
(iii) Smallpox,
Cases of smallpox were notified in Hong Kong during every month of 1937 except October. The largest number for any single month were encountered in April. A second fastigium occurred in December and this heralded what proved later to be the most serious outbreak within living memory. The yearly total was 129 cases notified of which ninety-four died. There can be little doubt that many cases missed detection owing to successful concealment and to a quite ineffective system of house- to-house visits.
The yearly incidence of smallpox during the preceding fourteen years is of interest for purposes of comparison with that of 1937.
Year
Cases
Year Cases
•
Table II.
1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1320 913 66 49 149 616 977
1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936.
15 248 566 153 61 23
270
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