sporadic cases and localized outbreaks. The type B virus strains were antigenically similar to those prevailing in other parts of the world. Commencing November 1969, influenza virus type A2 returned to the community, and continued to cause sporadic cases and minor outbreaks of respiratory infection, but the virus strains showed no antigenic deviation from the A2/HK/68 variant. Meantime in the winter months of 1968-69 and 1969-70 the influenza virus A2/HK/68 caused out- breaks of influenza in various parts of the world.
Tetanus
38. This disease, although not notifiable, is recorded with reasonable accuracy owing to the severity of the symptoms, requiring hospitaliza- tion of clinical cases. In past years approximately half the cases reported were in those new-born whose birth had not been attended by trained personnel and who had been exposed to various hazards from unsterile materials. In 1969 tetanus neonatorum was responsible for only 10.5% of the recorded cases, and infant mortality from such infection fell from 1.2 deaths per 1,000 in 1951 to 0.025 deaths in 1969.
Viral Hepatitis
39. Notification of this disease is not compulsory, but the number of patients treated for it in hospitals has shown a steady decline since 1966, when there were 386 cases treated as compared with 191 in 1968 and 188 in the year under review. Since August 1966, disposable syringes have been used in all mass immunization drives, and it would appear that their use has led to a reduction in the incidence of this disease.
40. Developments in certain other communicable diseases are re- viewed later in this report; the remainder showed little variation during 1969 and hence require no comment.
III. WORK OF THE HEALTH DIVISION (Tables 17-42)
AREA HEALTH WORK
41. Much of the work of the area Health Officers, apart from their duties with the Urban Services Department in the maintenance of satisfactory standards of environmental sanitation and food hygiene. has been recounted in the proceding paragraphs on epidemiology. Such work included not only the field investigations into the major com- municable diseases but also the co-ordination of the activities of teams
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1
Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, Morrison Hill opened on 15th April, 1969.
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