19. The vaccine lymph used in the vaccination centres was prepared locally at the Government Bacteriological Institute. It proved uniformly potent and effective.
20. Immediate approval was given by Government for the augmentation of the accommodation at the rather inadequate Infectious Diseases Hospital in April by the building of three new huts each capable of holding fifteen-twenty patients. These huts enabled the use of marquees for the surplus patients to be discontinued.
21. The epidemic was the most virulent in living memory, and killed 1,833 people. The total number of cases recorded in the year was 2,327, of whom only 834 reached hospital. The mortality rate based on inclusive totals was 78 per centum. The hospital figures are given in Appendix III, where a more detailed account of the outbreak from the clinical standpoint will be found. An interesting sidelight is thrown on the popular reasons advanced in regard to the cause of this outbreak in Appendix IIIA. It is worthy of note that the majority of the deaths occurred in children of five years or under; some 1,388 in this age group.
(iv) Typhus.
22. Typhus occurred in epidemic form in several parts of northern China during the spring months, but Hong Kong was fortunate in having only two cases during the year. One was a naval rating who appeared to have contracted his infection in Shanghai, twelve days before arriving in Hong Kong; the other was a young male refugee who developed the disease three days after arriving from Shanghai. The latter case was sent into the Infectious Diseases Hospital as a case of smallpox. Both cases occurred in May and the diagnosis in each was established by the Weil Felix reaction. Both men recovered.
(v) Cerebro-spinal meningitis.
23. Cases occurred sporadically throughout the year. Out of a total of 483, 113 were notified in April. February, March and April were the months of greatest prevalence. The mortality was 46 per centum, 223 out of the 483 cases having died.
(See page 9.)
M 8
19. The vaccine lymph used in the vaccination centres was prepared locally at the Government Bacteriological Institute. It proved uniformly potent and effective.
20. Immediate approval was given by Government for the augmentation of the accommodation at the rather inadequate Infectious Diseases Hospital in April by the building of three new huts each capable of holding fifteen-twenty patients. These huts enabled the use of marquees for the surplus patients to be discontinued.
21. The epidemic was the most virulent in living memory, and killed 1,833 people. The total number of cases recorded in the year was 2,327, of whom only 834 reached hospital. The mortality rate based on inclusive totals was 78 per centum. The hospital figures are given in Appendix III, where a more de- tailed account of the outbreak from the clinical standpoint will be found. An interesting sidelight is thrown on the popular reasons advanced in regard to the cause of this outbreak in Appendix IIIA. It is worthy of note that the majority of the deaths occurred in children of five years or under; some 1,388 in this age group.
(iv) Typhus.
22. Typhus occurred in epidemic form in several parts of northern China during the spring months, but Hong Kong was fortunate in having only two cases during the year. One was a naval rating who appeared to have contracted his infection in Shanghai, twelve days before arriving in Hong Kong; the other was a young male refugee who developed the disease three days after arriving from Shanghai. The latter case was sent into the Infectious Diseases Hospital as a case of smallpox. Both cases occurred in May and the diagnosis in each was established by the Weil Felix reaction. Both men recovered.
---
(v) Cerebro-spiñal meningitis.
23. Cases occurred sporadically throughout the year. Out of a total of 483, 113 were notified in April. February, March and April were the months of greatest prevalence. The mortality was 46 per centum, 223 out of the 483 cases having died.
(See page 9.)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.