XN000022-1983-03-25 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983

NUMBER OF TB CASES ABATING

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CONCERTED EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAVE OUGHT A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE NOTIFICATION AND DEATH RATES OF TUBERCULOSIS DURING THE PAST YEAR, SAID THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG TODAY (FRIDAY).

IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION, DR THONG, WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT, SAID STATISTICS SHOWED THAT BOTH THE NOTIFICATION RATE AND THE DEATH RATE OF TUBERCULOSIS FOR 1982 ARE THE LOWEST RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.

HE SAID AN EARLIER SETBACK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS DUE TO THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS HAS NOW BEEN OVERCOME, AND THAT EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE ARE BACK ON COURSE WITH THE INDICES FALLING AGAIN.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS FELL FROM 7 729 IN 1981 TO 7 527 IN 1982, AND THE NOTIFICATION RATE AT 143.8 PER 100 000 POPULATION WAS THE LOWEST EVER RECORDED, HE SAID.

DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS ALSO FELL FROM 489 IN 1981 TO 454 IN 1982, WITH THE DEATH RATE DROPPING TO 8.7 PER 100 000 POPULATION, WHICH IS THE LOWEST IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.

DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT SINCE EARLY 1979 DURING THE INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, SOME 5 500 CASES OF ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS REQUIRING TREATMENT WERE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG.

THIS INFLUX HAS NOW BEEN REDUCED TO A TRICKLE, AND THE COVERNMENT'S INTEREST ON THE RESEARCH SIDE WAS BEING TURNED TOWARDS THE IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TUBERCULOSIS, HE SAID.

-WORKING HARMONY WITH THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, OUR RESEARCH IN THIS FIELD IS PROCEEDING VERY WELL AND HONG KONG CAN BE REGARDED AS BEING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIS EXCITING SUBJECT, HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, DR THONG SAID THAT 7 527 NEW TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN 1 2 WITH 454 DEATHS STILL REPRESENTED A HEAVY TOLL BOTH FIANCIALLY AND WITH REGARD TO HUMAN SUFFERING.

-E OBVIOUSLY CANNOT RELAX OUR EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS,+ -E SAID.

DR THONG SAID THE INCREASING POPULATION DENSITY COULD FAC TATE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, BUT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT, PROVIDED THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER INCREASE IN IMPORTED CASES, STEADY PROGRESS WOLLS CONTINUE TO BE MADE.

DR THONG TOLD THE ASSOCIATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPROVED FUNDS FOR AN EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM IN WAN CHAI, TO TURN THE TB INSTITUTION INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH ACUTE BEDS.

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