TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 250

Question No. 4

Reply by Dr. the Hon. Rudy Khoo, J.P., Ag. Director of Medical & Health Services, to Question by Dr. the Hon. Henrietta Ip in Legislative Council on 10.7.85

Question : Could Government inform this Council whether there has

been an increase in the number of malaria cases in Hong Kong in recent years and, if so, what preventive measures have been taken?

Sir,

The answer to the first part of Dr. Ip's question is 'Yes'.

The increase in the number of malaria cases notified in Hong Kong

corresponds with the global situation of malaria, particularly among

Asian countries. However, I should like to add that in Hong Kong the

increase occurred mainly among the imported cases which occupy about

90% of all the malaria cases reported. Thus, in 1981, 1982, 1983, and

1984, the number of imported cases were 61, 77, 94 and 101 respectively,

whilst the number of indigenous cases were 1, 1, 30, and 10 respectively.

In the first six months of this year, there were 72 imported cases and

1 indigenous case of malaria.

Since October 1983, an Inter-departmental Co-ordinating

Committee on Malaria, consisting of consultants and senior administrators

in my Department as well as representatives from the Urban Services

Department, the Government Information Service and the Headquarters

British Forces, has been established to monitor the situation and

co-ordinate control measures on malaria. The Committee has, inter

alia, prepared an 'Operational Manual on the Investigation and Management

of Malaria' for the guidance of the medical and other staff. It has

also made recommendations on the prevention and control of malaria.

/P. 2.