X1000306-1984-85_Part01 — Page 5

III Communicable Diseases

One local case of cholera was reported in the year with no secondary spread. Hong Kong remains free from other quarantinable diseases. The common communicable childhood diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and poliomyelitis have largely been under control.

Two fatal human rabies cases were notified in the year. One of the victim was a 26 years old boat woman who had history of frequent travels in the nearby coastal waters. The other was a local 24 years old young girl who was bitten by a rabid animal while she was visiting Shenzhen with her family. Both victims died inspite of treatment.

In the year seven cases of animal rabies (dogs) were reported in the northern part of the New Territories including Tai Po region.

During the year, a total of 113 cases of malaria were notified. The trend of imported cases was still on the increase while the number of indigenous cases was reduced to 10 for the year 1984. The indigenous cases were confined to Sai Kung and along the border areas. All notified malaria cases were thoroughly investigated and followed up by the regional health staff. This active surveillance programme was to minimise the possibility of a built up parasite density in the local community and to ensure that all practicable prevention and treatment programmes were being instituted effectively.

Since the establishment of the Central Reference Laboratory for the detection of malaria parasites, all positive slides as well as 10% of all initially negative slides were cross-checked for quality control.

Malaria control in the territory was concentrated on early case detection and notification, vector control and health education. Health talks, film shows, posters, pamphlets, press release, radio and TV interviews were utilised to remind the general public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and picnickers and international travellers to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Measles and rubella vaccination programmes were carried out in family health clinics and schools. Measles vaccinations were given to one- year-old babies and rubella vaccinations to girls in Primary 6 classes. coverage were in the region of 70% and 95% respectively.

The

To increase the protection of the at-risk group, namely women at child-bearing age the rubella vaccinations were made available to the

teachers, social workers who are in constant contact with children. nurses, The vaccination is also given to eligible women attending the various family health services clinics.

Both virus hepatitis A and hepatitis B remain prevalent in the community with 1 780 notified cases and 12 deaths reported during the year. Because of the public health implication of this disease which usually leads to long term liver complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, the department had introduced a Hepatitis B Vaccination Programme against the disease.

Following the recommendation of the WHO the strategy was to provide immunization against hepatitis B to high-risk groups in the community. The first group comprises those babies born to mothers who are carriers of the disease. The second group comprises health care workers who are in frequent contact with blood and blood products or tissue fluids.

The Medical and Health Department had launched a combined neonatal screening programme for glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenose deficiency and congenital hypothyroidism to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of

The infants who may otherwise develop disabilities of mental retardation. programme managed to cover all babies born in Government and subvented hospitals. Based on the result of the present screening programme so far the prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in local male babies is 4.34% whereas the frequency of congenital hypothyroidism disorder is 1 in 2 865 live births. Prompt follow up and remedial measures were instituted such that development of permanent disabilities in these children could be avoided.

Since 1981, an epidemic of a new disease causing unexplained immune suppression had been identified in the United States and many other countries throughout the world.

Since November 1984 an expert Advisory Committee on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) consisting of medical experts from the department and the universities has been established to monitor the global development of this disease. The Committee, in the light of available scientific data and knowledge, has recommended measures to contain this disease. In the course of its deliberations, it has set up guidelines to medical, nursing and laboratory staff on the diagnosis and reporting of AIDS and precautionary measures to be taken in handling cases.

Up to the end of March 1985 two confirmed cases of AIDS were notified and one case died on February 1985. Health educational activities on the subject had been stepped up to educate the public on the facts of the disease and to allay any misconception and undue anxiety that might have arisen. The Central Health Education Unit also produced special pamphlets on this subject. A 24-hour telephone service was made available to those who are interested since March 1985.

Many gastroenteritis diseases were still endemic in the region and

There were 233 they occurred from time to time in small outbreaks. outbreaks of acute food poisoning involving some 1 340 persons. The common organisms responsible for these outbreaks included salmonella, E. Coli, ataphylococcus and vibrio-parahaemolyticus. Active case finding and contact tracing were carried out by the regional health teams. Their efforts helped in limiting the spread of the disease within the community. Two fatal cases of puffer fish poisoning were reported,

2

3