XN000022-1991-06-27 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1991

THE FIGURES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS WERE: 7,021 CASES AND A RATE OF 123.6 PER 100,000 POPULATION IN 1988, 7,269 CASES AND A RATE OF 129.5 IN 1987, 7,432 CASES AND A RATE OF 134.3 IN 1986, AND 7,545 CASES AND A RATE OF 138.3 IN 1985.

DR LEE SAID A TOTAL OF 382 TUBERCULOSIS DEATHS WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR, GIVING A RATE OF 6.6 PER 100,000 POPULATION.

THIS SHOWED A SLIGHT DECREASE WHEN COMPARED WITH 403 DEATHS

AND A RATE OF SEVEN PER 100,000 POPULATION IN 1989.

WERE

DURING THE PAST YEAR, HE SAID, 288 VIETNAMESE BOAT PROPLE FOUND TO HAVE ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS REQUIRING TREATMENT AS A RESULT OF BXAMINATION OF SYMPTOM-MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS.

"ALL BOAT PEOPLE AGED 14 AND BELOW WERE GIVEN DIRECT BCG

VACCINATION AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVED," DR LEE SAID.

"HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WERE VIGOROUSLY CARRIED OUT IN THE CAMPS AND CENTRES TO. MOTIVATE PEOPLE WITH SYMPTOMS TO COME FORWARD FOR EXAMINATION," HE ADDED.

DESPITE THE DECLINING ANNUAL RATE OF NOTIFICATION, DR Lee HONG KONG SHOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ BE VIGILANT ON THE SITUATION MAINTAIN OR REINFORCE ITS PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL MEASURES.

SAID AND

DR LEE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAD HELPED AND INITIATED THE SETTING UP OF A TUBERCULOSIS RESEARCH CENTRE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT COMPILED BY TWO TUBERCULOSIS EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM PROFESSOR WALLACE FOX AND PROFESSOR STEWART KILPATRICK

THE INVITATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REVIEW THE EXISTING STATE OF TUBERCULOSIS ITS MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG AND TO ADVISE ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST SERVICE.

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AT

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AND

ON LUNG CANCER DEATHS, DR LEE SAID, THE FIGURE WENT UP TO 2,638 FROM 2,592 IN 1989.

FOR LAST YEAR

"THE UPGOING TREND WAS LIKELY REFLECTING THE LATE BFFECT OF PAST CIGARETTE SMOKING, HE CONTINUED.

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HE ADDED THAT THE CONCERTED EFFORTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTEER AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO COMBAT CIGARETTE SMOKING WOULD EVENTUALLY ACHIEVE ITS TARGET IN FUTURE.

TURNING TO OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASES, DR LEE SAID 119 CASES OF SILICOSIS AND ONE CASE OF ASBESTOSIS WERE REPORTED AND COMPENSATED LAST YEAR.

THE

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS CASES COMPENSATED SINCE INCEPTION OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IN JANUARY 1981 STOOD AT 3,631.

ON HEART DISEASE, DR LEE SAID [T CLAIMED A TOTAL OF 4,976 LIVES LAST YEAR, 140 MORE THAN IN 1989.

/HE POINTED