XN000022-1974-06-21 — Page 14

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FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1974

HEALTH REPORT FOR MAY

INCIDENCE OF MEASLES CONTINUES TO DROP

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HEALTH RETURNS FOR MAY ISSUED TODAY BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT SEVEN CHILDREN DIED FROM MEASLES, A DROP OF ONE COMPARED WITH THE EIGHT DEATHS RECORDED IN APRIL.

NOTIFICATIONS OF MEASLES DURING THE MONTH DROPPED TO 102, COMPARED WITH THE 307 IN APRIL, 349 IN MARCH, AND 384 IN FEBRUARY.

COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A SPOKESMAN SAID THEY SHOWED THAT THE YEAR'S FIRST ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN WHICH ENDED IN MAY HAD PRODUCED A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.

+FREE ANTI-MEASLES VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, NOT ONLY DURING CAMPAIGN PERIODS, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

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

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OF THE 100 OTHER DEATHS RECORDED DURING MAY, 92 WERE CAUSED BY TUBERCULOSIS A RISE FROM THE 81 DEATHS FROM THE SAME DISEASE RECORDED IN APRIL -- ONE BY CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS, TWO BY TYPHOID, TWO BY VIRAL HEPATITIS, TWO BY TETANUS, AND ONE BY TETANUS NEONATORUM.

THERE WERE INCREASES IN THE NOTIFICATIONS OF BOTH ENTERIC FEVER AND VIRAL HEPATITIS - 40 OF THE FIRST DISEASE AS COMPARED WITH 26 IN APRIL, AND 65 OF THE SECOND AS COMPARED WITH 52. THERE WAS ALSO AN INCREASE IN FOOD POISONING CASES INVOLVING 47 VICTIMS COMPARED WITH THE 26 RECORDED IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

BUT BACILLARY DYSENTARY AND CHICKENPOX CASES DECLINED CONSIDERABLY FROM 40 'AND. 211 IN APRIL TO 17 AND 145 IN MAY.

NO CASES OF DIPHTHERIA WERE RECORDED. THE RECORD FOR POLIOMYELITIS ALSO REMAINED CLEAN WITH NO CASES NOTIFIED. THE INCIDENCE OF OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SHOWED NO APPRECIABLE VARIATION.

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

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