XN000022-1986-04-06 — Page 6

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 1986

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INTENDING TRAVELLERS CAN OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ON MALARIA ENDEMIC COUNTRIES FROM THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ONLY EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL WAY IN WHICH HONG KONG CAN PROTECT ITSELF AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF MALARIA CASES IS THROUGH AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF SURVEILLANCE, CONSISTING OF CASE DETECTION, TREATMENT, INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIAL ACTION. THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED SUCH A SYSTEM.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED RESIDENTS TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHEN VISITING RURAL AREAS BECAUSE MALARIA IS TRANSMITTED BY ANOPHELINE MOSQUITOES WHICH ARE FOUND IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

PEOPLE GOING CAMPING OR PICNICKING, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE PLANNING TO STAY OUT OVERNIGHT, SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTION, FOR EXAMPLE WEARING LONG TROUSERS AND LONG SLEEVED SHIRTS OR COATS, AND ALSO USE INSECT REPELLENT. IN ADDITION, THEY SHOULD TAKE WITH THEM MOSQUITO NETS OR SCREENS.

+BUT THE BEST PREVENTIVE MEASURES WOULD BE TO STOP MOSQUITOES FROM BREEDING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SINCE MOSQUITOES IN HONG KONG BREED IN CLEAR WATER STREAMS AND STAGNANT WATER WITH VEGETATION, THEY ARE MOSTLY FOUND IN IRRIGATION DITCHES, HILL STREAMS, EXCAVATION SITES AND ABANDONED PADDY FIELDS.

+MALARIA IS A NOTIFIABLE DISEASE AND EVERY CASE NOTIFIED WILL BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT AS TO THE POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFECTION, HE SAID.

BLOOD SAMPLES ARE TAKEN FROM PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA, AND ALL CASES ARE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT,

AFTER TREATMENT IN HOSPITAL, FOLLOW-UP ACTION BY HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS WITH BLOOD SCREENING AT MONTHLY INTERVALS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HEALTH EDUCATION IS ANOTHER ESSENTIAL PART OF ANTI-MALARIA WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+THIS IS USUALLY IN THE FORM OF HEALTH TALKS AT VILLAGES AND SCHOOLS, DISTRIBUTION OF POSTERS AND LEAFLETS AND SOMETIMES HOUSE TO HOUSE VISITS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO MOUNTING LOCALISED ANTI-MALARIA PROGRAMMES IN SOME AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TO REMIND RESIDENTS THERE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO CONTROL MOSQUITO BREEDING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF LARVICIDAL AND INSECTICIDES TO POTENTIAL MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES.

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