X1000306-1983-84_Part01 — Page 5

III Communicable Diseases

Hong Kong remains free from quarantinable diseases. The common communicable childhood diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and poliomyelitis, have been adequately brought under control.

Four cases of animal rabies involving three dogs and one cat were reported during the year. These cases ware all identified in the northern district of New Territories. All human contacta were given the necessary prophylaxis and treatment in nearby medical clinica.

One osas of poliomyelitis was reported in an 8-month old baby girl who had not received the full schedule of polio vaccins. During the year, a total of 81 528 doses of Type I polio vaccina and 153 438 doses of trivalent polio vaccine ware given, covering Home 95 % of the local young population under the age of one.

In the year, 888 cases of measles were notified with two reported deaths, beasles vaccination continued throughout the year to cover children from the age of one onverde. A total of

76 211 doses of mocine were given. An outbreak of rubella, affecting some schoole, homes and offices occurred in the early part of the year. 19 cases of congenital rubella were reported and might be related to this outbreak, The rubella immunization programme for girls aged 11 to 14 presently covere over 90 % of girls in Primary VI classes, The vaccine is also made amilable to specific groups of women of child-bearing age.

During the year, 94 imported, one induced and 30 indigenous cases of malaria were reparted. The indigenous caeed ware clustered around the border and Sai Kung of the New Territories. Other than intensifying the surveillance and control mesexes againet malaria and its vectors, strong emphases were made on educating the general public, especially those living in Sai Kung and border areas on the prevention of malaria. These include health talks to schools, film shows,, postere, press release eto, to remind local residente and pionickers/campers to take appropriate personal protection against moaquito bites and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

In view of the resurgence of indigenous malaria in Hong Kong in 1983, the World Health Organisation was requested to send experts to Hong Kong to give advice and to review the preventive and control mammes taken in the territory to assist in training local ataff on various aspects on mlaria,

Both virus Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B remained prevalent in the community with 1 783 notified cases and 28 deatha reported during the year. In view of the public health aspect of this disease which usually leads to long term liver complicationa like cirrhosis and liver cancer, and in line with the WHO recommendation for the control of Hepatitis B infection, the Medical & Health Department introduoad a Hepatitis B Vaccination Programme in the year.

A special advisory committee was set up early in 1983 to advise the government on an overall atrategy to provide immunization against Hepatitis B to high risk groupe in the community. The first group was health care workers who were in frequent contact with blood and blood products or tisa fluids in the course of their work. The second group consisted

of babies barn to mothers who were carriers of the disease.

Many gastroenteritis diasasea were still endemic in the region and they occurred from time to time in small outbreaks. There were 169 outbreaks of acute food poisoning involving some 642 persons. The common organisms responsible for these outbreake included salmonella, E. Coli, staphylococcus and vibrio-parahaemolytique. Active case finding and contact tracing were carried out by the regiomal health teamA, Their efforts helped in limiting the spread of the disease within the community. A fatal case of puffer fish poisoning waa reparted. The fish was bought from a mobile havicer in Cheung Chau. All three persons who had consumed the fish developed symptome, whilst one died about 5 hours after having taken the food,

IV Health Services

Tuberculosis and Chest Services

The Hong Kong Tuberculosis and Chest Services continue to provide service to the public who have tuberculosis and other respiratory problems requiring investigation, hospital care and treatment. A total of 7 301 cases of tuberculosis were notified, representing a rate of 137.4 per 100 000 population compared with 143.8 in 1992. The tuberculosis death rate was 8.4 par 100 000 population compared with 8.7 in 1982 and represented, about 1.7 % of the total registered deaths in the year. Attendance

at government chest clinic were 702 950 compared with 703 343 in 1982, a decline of 0.1%. B.0.0. vaccination remained a recommended programme and covered over 99 % of the newborns.

2

3