1939-03-11 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH, 11, 1939

SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF MENINGITIS

The gravity of the inroads of a dangerous infecti- ous disease now prevailing in this Colony,, is the subject of a public appeal by the Medical Dept.

ANTONG

of

For some weeks past there has been a steady in-

crease in the number of recognised cases cerebrospinal meningitis sometimes called "spotted fever."

In point of fact; twice as many suf- ferers have been encountered. this year as compared with those Beem during the corresponding period last year; and the outbreak in 1938 was the worst that this Colony had perienced for twenty years.

Ox-

1

At the 'present moment nearly seven- ty patients with this disease are being cared for in the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town.

ALL AGES

Cerebro-spinal meningitis 'claims victims from all ages, the majority of those attacked, last year being children and young persons under fifteen years of age, Many children and, oven young babies die from it and the chances of recovery with all the amount of medie cal care and nursing lavished upon patients were, about one in two last year.

;

The question may be rightly asked "How is the infectionspread." The answer is "By persons suffering from the diseases or who have ... recovered from an attack and others who in- nocently harbour the germ in the back of their throats, i.e. "carriers","

Apart from the influence of general ill-health, underfeeding and a general low standard of personal, and domes- tic hygiene, the two more important factors in the spread of cerebro-spina! meningitis are overcrowding and bad ventilation.

Shirley Temple and Bill Robin- son in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" showing to-day at the King's Theatre.

congregate, to do their best to main- tain a high standard of ventilation

REFUGEE PROBLEM

and, in the case of cinemas and thea- The heavy influx of refugees and tres, to ensure that the whole atmosp- impossibility of keeping pace with the here is completely changed between demands for. housing accommodation each performance. and depressed economic standards If all cooperate willingly with the have greatly aggravated the problem Health Authorities in just these two of overcrowding in this Colony-simple measures, much avoidable suf- tenement floors which used to house fering, and loss of life from cerebro- fifteen to seventeen now have to shel- spinal meningitis may be attained. ter as many as sixty.

With all its efforts to provide camps for refugees and destitutes, 'Govern- ment is faced with an impossible task at the moment in so far as any real relief of the overcrowding problem is practicable,

case.

That, however, dare not mean that nothing can be done to assist in stam- ping out this outbreak of infectious disease. This is far from being the The community can give very useful help to the Health Authorities by reporting immediately to the near- est doctor cases of cerebro-spinal men- ingitis characteristic symptoms of which include headache, fever, stiffness of the neck and back, vomiting, con- vulsione in children, and, not infr quently, loss of consciousness, and a rash

VENTILATION IMPORTANT Even before any actual cases occur in a household, the general public can assist very materially in the preven- tion of the disease by doing, all they can to improve the ventilation of their homes which should be flushed through with fresh air as often as possible, windows being kept open both day and night. Some people object to keeping windows open at night owing to the fear of thieves and Intruders, This difficulty can be surmounted by having expanded metal or a few iron bars placed across the window space.

K.C.C. PRIZE-GIVING

AND SMOKER

To-night, commencing at 9.15 p.m. the Kowloon Cricket Club will hold their annual prize distribution and a particularly enjoyable evening is pro mised with the enlistment of the ser- vices of many leading local entertain- cts.

Mrs. Lindsell, wife of the president of the Club, will present the trophies. Those who will assist in the entertain-

ment are:

Alexander Colquhoun-Piano Ac-

cordianist.

With H. L. Ozorio at the piano, Winnie Cox-Elocutionist, G. Dicks Light. Comedian. Joan Greig-Mezzo Soprano, David KossickCharacter Actor. Victor Labrum-Humorist. Joyce Nash-Hawaiiann Guitar. Accompanied by Mr. Raymond Lui. Hector Wiggins-Tenor, Accompanist: Jack Fountain,

AUSTRIA INCLUDED

A special appeal is made to pro- IN RELIGIOUS LAW

prietors of cinemas, theatres, certain types of restaurants and eating shops, minhlong houses, clubs and similar places where large numbers of persons

NIKS A

“A Guard

Berlin, March 5.

that the bill on the religious educa- The Home Ministry has decreed tion of children has been extended to include Austria as from March 1- Competent quarters believe that the decision was taken in order to Weaken the Catholic Church in Austria,

Up till now, when parents were convorted to another ⠀⠀ religion; they could request that the new faith be taught their children. Henceforth, they can request this for children of from 7 to 12 years of age, but above this age no change can be forced upon a child without Its consent. Havas.

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