XN000022-1974-05-23 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1974.

BIG DROP IN INCIDENCE OF MEASLES

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CAMPAIGN SHOWS RESULTS

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HEALTH RETURNS FOR APRIL ISSUED TODAY BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT EIGHT CHILDREN DIED FROM MEASLES, A CONSIDERABLE DROP COMPARED WITH THE 13 DEATHS RECORDED IN MARCH.

NOTIFICATIONS OF MEASLES DURING THE MONTH DROPPED TO 307, COMPARED WITH THE 349 IN MARCH AND 384 IN FEBRUARY.

COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A SPOKESMAN SAID THEY SHOWED THAT THE CURRENT ANTI-IZASLES CAMPAIGN WAS PRODUCING A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.

+AS ALREADY ANNOUNCED, THE ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN IS CONTINUING UNTIL THE END OF HAY, HE STRESSED. VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, NOT ONLY DURING THIS EXTENDED CAMPAIGN PERIOD, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

+PARENTS OF SUSCEPTIBLE CHILDREN BETWEEN SIX MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS SHOULD HAVE THEM IMMUNISED.+

OF THE 93 OTHER DEATHS RECORDED DURING APRIL, 81 WERE CAUSED BY TUBERCULOSIS A DROP FROM THE 111 DEATHS FROM THE SAME DISEASE IN MARCH FOUR BY CEREBROSPINAL ME- NINGITIS AND MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS, ONE BY CHICKENPOX, FOUR BY VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND THREE BY TETANUS.

THERE WERE 40 NOTIFICATIONS OF BACILLARY DYSENTERY, A RISE FROM THE 23 RECORDED IN MARCH. NOTIFICATIONS OF CHICKENPOX ALSO ROSE FROM 151 IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH TO 211.

TWO CASES OF DIPHTHERIA WERE RECORDED, ONE ON THE ISLAND AND ONE IN KOLLOON. THE RECORD FOR POLIOMYELITIS REMAINED CLEAN WITH NO CASES NOTIFIED. THE INCIDENCE OF OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SHOVED NO APPRECIABLE VARIATION.

DURING THE MONTH, HONG KONG REMAINED FREE FROM CHOLERA AND OTHER QUARANTINABLE DISEASES.

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