XN000022-1975-05-06 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1975

WEEKLY STATISTICS ON VIRAL HEPATITIS

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A TOTAL OF 68 CASES OF VIRAL HEPATITIS WAS NOTIFIED TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT DURING THE WEEK ENDING MAY 3. THIS COMPARES WITH 69 IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, 83 IN THE SECOND WEEK, 71 IN THE THIRD WEEK AND 48 IN THE FOURTH.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT IN VIEW OF THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE, THE DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO ISSUE WEEKLY FIGURES IN THE COMING WEEKS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE TREND OF THIS INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND ALSO TO REMIND THE PUBLIC TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN SAFEGUARDING THEMSELVES AGAINST THIS DISEASE.

NO DEATHS FROM THIS DISEASE WERE REPORTED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, HE SAID.

AS REGARDS AGE DISTRIBUTION OF CASES NOTIFIED SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES WAS RECORDED IN THE AGE GROUP 20-24, REPRESENTING 23 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES WERE TRANSMITTED BY CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK.

HE AGAIN URGED THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE STRICT PERSONAL AND FOOD HYGIENE AND TO KEEP THEIR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN.