CO129-594-8 A G H Sment- report on medical activities and problems 16-12-1945 - 18-2-1946 — Page 57

3. PREVALENT DISEASES.

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The three most prevalent diseases in the Colony at present are malaria, pulmonary tuberculosis and venereal disease. This agrees with post-war conditions found in other Colonial territories. Col. Fehily estimates that about one-third of the deaths occurring since the Japanese capitulation have been due to starvation, beri-beri and deficiency diseases generally. During the occupation 150 bodies were collected daily from the streets, repre- senting mainly people who had died from starvation and I am told reliably that cannibalism was prevalent during 1942 and 1943. The Japanese policy here, as elsewhere,

to get rid of surplus population from crowded areas without any consideration as to the fate of the people who were expelled from these areas, with the result that many people had no means of subsistence. Since re-entry the death rate has been going down progressively but there is still an unduly high incidence of disease. With improving diets the incidence of beri-beri, at one time high, is decreasing. Infantile beri-beri, which used to be an index of the occurrence of beri-beri generally, has largely disappeared. Nevertheless, the incidence of beri- beri still remains well above that existing in the pre-war period.

Before the Japanese occupation, malaria had been reduced to a negligible incidence and it was noteworthy if cases occurred in any locality. But, with the privations of the long occupation and lowered resistance, coupled with almost total neglect of anti-malarial activities, the incidence of malaria has risen to an alarming extent. Fortunately, this is confined to certain areas, chiefly where bomb or shell damage has occurred. In country

In the

areas the occurrence of malaria is mainly due to the neglect of anti-malarial control which has permitted the breeding of the chief vector A. minimus, which lives in sluggish streams and seepage in hilly areas. large Island of Lan Tau, which lies to the South of Hong Kong Island, much malaria has occurred and steps have been taken to protect the population there by the use of suppressive mepacrin; the population of the Island is probably something over 7,000, which is the 1931 census figure. There is also a good deal of malaria on the mainland, especially where construction is in progress, for instance, in the Ping Shan area where work on the new airfield is going on. Malaria in the Colony is to some extent associated with the growing of padi but this is seasonal. Tortunately, the incidence has not been high in Victoria, except in one or two limited areas, but it has been prevalent in the Taikoo Dock area which was badly damaged and in other areas in this neighbour- hood. A high percentage of the admissions to some hospitals is still due to malaria. The main type of parasite seen is vivax although there is a fairly high proportion of falciparum. While the situation is serious, it is not

30 menacing now as it was earlier. For one thing the

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