XN000022-1974-07-30 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1974

HONTH

SECOND ANTI-MEASLES CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH DETERMINED EFFORT TO AVOID POSSIBLE EPIDEMIC

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS LAUNCHING THE YEAR'S SECOND ANTI-EASLES CALPAICH DURING AUCUST IN A DETERMINED BID TO ¡MMUNISE KORE CHILDREN BEFORE THE COMING WINTER-SPRING.

THE SECOND AIM IS TO PREVENT ANY SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THE INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE DURING THIS PERIOD.

THE FIRST CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR DEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, AND WAS EXTENDED TO THE END OF HAY, WITH A TOTAL OF 24,752 CHILDREN BEING INGUNISED.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR, A WARNING ABOUT A POSSICLE EPIDEMIC WHEN 11 CHILDREN DIED FROM THE DISEASE IN JANUARY ALONE, THE. HIGHEST TOTAL SINCE 1957, UAS ISSUED BY DR. K.L. THONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (HEALTII).

THERE WAS A REASONABLY GOOD RESPONSE TO THE EXTENDED CAKPAIGN, AND THE VINTER-SPRING OF 1973-74 PASSED WITHOUT A REPEAT OF THE EPICENIC IN 1966-67 WHEN KORE TAI 1,000 DIED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT

WE HAVE EXPLAINS: +BUT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY. CHOSEN AUGUST AS THE YEAR'S SECOND ANTI-EASLES CAMPAIGN PERIOD BECAUSE INHUNISATION NOU CAN PREVENT UNECESSARY SICKNESS AND EVEN DEATHS ALONG CHILDREN WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COOLER.+

HE STRESSES THAT +ALTHOUGH HEASLES IS REGARDED BY MANY PEOPLE AS A COMMON CHILDWOOD DISEASE, AND PERHAPS NOT A VERY SERIOUS ONE IN ITSELF, DANCER LIES IN THE CO:PLICATIONS THAT CAN ARISE FROM IT, SUCH AS CRONCHITIS, PNEUMONIA, NICCLE EAR INFECTION, AND ENCEPHALITIS.+

FOR A MONTH FROM AUGUST 1, THERE WILL BE PUBLICITY TO URCE PARENTS OF SUSCEPTIBLE CHILDREN TO HAVE THEN UNISED.

FREE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL THE DEPARTMENT'S GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES IN HONG KONG, KOULOON, AND THE NOV. TERRITORIES.

KOBILE TEAMS WILL VISIT HOUSING ESTATES AND OTHER AREAS, AS AN ADDED SERVICE, AND VILL CALL ON ANY INSTITUTION, ON REQUEST, TO INOCULATE CHILDREN IN GROUPS CF 20 OR KORE.

THE REQUEST CAN BE MADE BY A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE DEPARTMENT'S REGIONAL HEALTH OFFICES — HONG KONG ISLAND 5-435581= KOWLOON 3-010111 EXT. 347- NEW TERRITORIES 3-866825.

THE SPOKESMAN URGES PARENTS +NOT TO PERSIST IN THE WRONG BELIEF THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE MADE TO GO. THROUGH AN ATTACK OF MEASLES INSTEAD OF BEING PREVENTED FROM GETTING IT, OR HAVING IT SUPPRESSED.+

HE APPEALS IN PARTICULAR TO PARENTS IN HOUSING ESTATES. MEASLES BEING A HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE, +INOCULATION IS THE ONLY MEANS OF PREVENTING IT FROM SPREADING ALONG CHILDREN IN LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF POPULATION.+

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