# Chapter IV.
## 1. PUBLIC HEALTH.
The continuation of Sino-Japanese hostilities throughout 1939, the intensification of military operations in the Chung Shan district lying between Macao and Canton from which a greater portion of the supply of vegetables for the Colony is derived, the extension to the Island of Hainan and the neighbouring mainland of Western Kwangtung, whence come most of the live pigs, mopping-up tactics on the Colony's land frontier followed by a virtual land-blockade for the last five and a half months of the year, depriving the Colony of its normal supplies of vegetables, pigs and cattle from Eastern Kwangtung, increase in the price of staple foodstuffs following upon the outbreak of war in Europe, disintegration of health services in most of occupied Kwangtung and the influx of malnourished refugees often bringing with them acute infections of various kinds, all combined to exert an adverse influence on the health of the community during the year under review.
## 2. EPIDEMICS.
Epidemic disease took heavy toll.
### SMALLPOX.
Smallpox was less prevalent than in 1938, the relevant figures for 1939 being 198 cases with 153 deaths, a case mortality rate of 77 per centum as compared with 2,327 cases and 1,834 deaths and a mortality of 79 per centum in the previous year. Thirty-five of the cases were imported from Macao, Kwangtung and other parts of China. The principal weapon used against this disease was vaccination and 1,393,860 vaccinations were carried out in 1939, the figure for 1938 being 1,027,591.
### CHOLERA.
Cholera reared its ugly head once again in Hong Kong in 1939. Apart from five sporadic cases in January, the Colony remained free until the 5th May, a peak was reached during the last week in August and the first "nil" return was received for the week ending the 25th November. Thirty-four cases were imported from Macao and other out-ports. Cases, deaths and case mortality are given in the following table:
| Year | Cases | Deaths | Percentage case mortality |
|------|-------|--------|---------------------------|
| 1937 | 1,690 | 1,082 | 64 |
| 1938 | 547 | 364 | 67 |
| 1939 | 709 | 448 | 63 |
Table IV.
Anti-cholera inoculations to the number of 320,748 were carried out. Many of these related to intending passengers by steamship, since stringent regulations were enforced by the quarantine authorities in the Philippines and elsewhere during the year. Owing to the many instances of cholera-infected persons arriving from Macao, special measures were taken to ensure that passengers to and from that port were in possession of valid certificates of anti-cholera inoculation. This measure met with local opposition which was, however, largely overcome in the interests of the community.
Intensive public health propaganda was carried out and took the form, in part, of the posting throughout the Colony of graphic posters demonstrating the ways in which infection took place and indicating the most appropriate preventive measures.
Chapter IV.
1. PUBLIC HEALTH.
The continuation of Sino-Japanese hostilities throughout 1939, the intensification of military operations in the Chung Shan district lying between Macao and Canton from which a greater portion of the supply of vegetables for the Colony is derived, the extension to the Island of Hainan and the neighbouring mainland of Western Kwangtung, whence come most of the live pigs, mopping-up tactics on the Colony's land frontier followed by a virtual land-blockade for the last five and a half months of the year, depriving the Colony of its normal supplies of vegetables, pigs and cattle from Eastern Kwangtung, increase in the price of staple foodstuffs following upon the outbreak of war in Europe, disintegration of health services in most of occupied Kwangtung and the influx of malnourished refugees often bringing with them acute infections of various kinds, all combined to exert an adverse influence on the health of the community during the year under review.
2. EPIDEMICS.
Epidemic disease took heavy toll.
SMALLPOX.
Smallpox was less prevalent than in 1938, the relevant figures for 1939 being 198 cases with 153 deaths, a case mortality rate of 77 per centum as compared with 2,327 cases and 1,834 deaths and a mortality of 79 per centum in the previous year. Thirty-five of the cases were imported from Macao, Kwangtung and other parts of China. The principal weapon used against this disease was vaccination and 1,393,860 vaccinations were carried out in 1939, the figure for 1938 being 1,027,591.
CHOLERA.
Cholera reared its ugly head once again in Hong Kong in 1939. Apart from five sporadic cases in January, the Colony remained free until the 5th May, a peak was reached during the last week in August and the first "nil" return was received for the week ending the 25th November. Thirty-four cases were imported from Macao and other out-ports. Cases, deaths and case mortality are given in the following table :--
Year.
Cases
Deaths
Percentage case mortality
Table IV.
1937.
1938.
1939.
1,690
547
709
1,082
364
448
64
67
63
Anti-cholera inoculations to the number of 320,748 were carried out. Many of these related to intending passengers by steamship, since stringent regulations were enforced by the quarantine authorities in the Philippines and elsewhere during the year. Owing to the many instances of cholera-infected persons arriving from Macao, special measures were taken to ensure that passengers to and from that port were in possession of valid certificates of anti-cholera inoculation. This measure met with local opposition which was, however, largely overcome in the interests of the community.
Intensive public health propaganda was carried out and took the form, in part, of the posting throughout the Colony of graphic posters demonstrating the ways in which infection took place and indicating the most appropriate preventive measures.
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