Chemical Pathology
69. It is worthy of note that certain specialised tests in this field were being done for case in Queen Mary Hospital, the significant one being the estimation of lead in urine. Other tests included the estimation of ketosteroids, catecholamines, S-bydroxyindolacetic acid and amino acid chromatography.
Bacteriology
70. Samples of nightsoil, well water and imported food from eademic areas were routinely examined throughout the year for cholera vibrios. There was no positive isolation and no clinical cases were detected. The isolation of non-cholera vibrios in nightsoil samples presented opportunities for further work on identification and typing. The use of nitrate blood agar and coagulated serum agar as selective media for the growth of these vibrios has been of value. The emergence of multiple drug resistant strains of Shigella orgianisms needs further study. Alterations to the building are now being carried out to provide more laboratory space to meet the increased demand for bacteriological assessment of commercial food and other products for export. In the food section new tests were developed to comply with health regulations of importing countries.
71. Apart from routine bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis, the tuberculosis laboratory was mainly involved in anti-tuberculous drug sensitivity tests in conjunction with the Medical Research Council of London. In this connexion the slide culture technic initiated by a member of the Medical Research Council in this laboratory for rapid testing of anti-tuberculous drug sensitivity is progressing satisfactorily.
Virology
72. The Government Virus Unit continued diagnostic examination for virus infections and surveys in connection with poliomyelitis. Other projects included studies of respiratory virus infections and follow-up study of post-vaccinal measles antibody.
73. Laboratory evidence of poliovirus infection was obtained in only two of the twenty suspected cases of poliomyelitis. Both were type 1 infections. This was the lowest figure of laboratory-confirmed polio- myelitis recorded since the functioning of this laboratory in 1960. Two poliomyelitis faecal surveys in normal children were carried out in July and December respectively. The excretor rate of 'wild' poliovirus was
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0.2% in July and none in December. Vaccine strains of poliovirus were found in 1.4% of children in the December's survey only.
74. The laboratory continued to function as a World Health Organization National Influenza Centre. A minor outbreak of influenza occurred during August and September, the virus isolated being similar to the more recent A2 antigenic variant. The investigation of respiratory virus infection formed part of the World Health Organization co-opera- tive study in this region. Viruses commonly associated with respiratory infections were parainfluenza virus type I and type 3, adenovirus types 2, 3 and 7. Other viruses found in isolated cases were: ECHO virus types 1. 11. 14; Coxsackie virus B4 and B6: mumps virus and rhinovirus.
75. An increased incidence of Coxsackie B5 virus infections was observed in February and March associated with various clinical con- ditions such as respiratory infections, fever with skin rash and heart failure. Three clinical cases of Japanese B encephalitis were sera- logically diagnosed in August, and the testing of a small number of samples of pigs' serum suggested that pigs could be the reservoir of the virus. The incidence of infection in pigs appeared to be higher in the New Territories than on the island.
76. The follow-up study of post-vaccinal measles antibody was carried out in children who received the Beckenham 31 or Schwartz live attenuated measles vaccine in 1966. The result showed that 80% of the children possessed a satisfactory persistent level of measles anti- body at one year and the remaining 20% had a gradual fall when compared with the level at the 4th week after vaccination. There was no significant difference in the degree and rate of antibody decline for both vaccine groups.
INDUSTRIAL HEALTH
(See table 43)
77. The health of workers in factories and in other industrial undertakings is the statutory responsibility of the Commissioner of Labour. The Industrial Health Division of the Labour Department which is staffed by personnel seconded from the Medical and Health Department, is chiefly concerned with the prevention of occupational discases and the protection of workers against health bazards arising from their working environments. To achieve these aims a number of
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