X1000307-1952-53_Part01 — Page 12

Communicable Diseases

51. For the sixth year in succession, the Colony has been free from any major epidemic.

62. In 1952 there was no case of cholera, plague, epidemic typhus, relapsing fever or yellow fever. There were however 9 cases of smallpox, two of which were imported. One local sporadic case occurred one month after the first imported case, but investigation of this case, which had travelled widely in the Colony whilst in the infective stage, showed no possible focus. Prophylactic measures were adopted immediately. Whether as a result of this, or as is more likely due to the immunity con- ferred by the high vaccinal state of the population, no second case occurred.

53. Six cases of scrub typhus were notified, all of which occurred in Military personnel.

64. There were 1 human and 6 animal fatal cases of rabies notified, all occurring in the New Territories. Control of dogs was strictly enforced in the urban area. In the rural areas, this problem proves much more difficult, because of the widely scattered homesteade.

Enteric fever.

55. There were 1,230 cases with 158 deaths compared with 1,024 cases with 184 deaths-an incidence increase of 20.1%. The fatality rate has dropped from 50% in 1946 to 12.8% in 1952.

56. The source of infection is widespread as shown by scattered distribution of cases all over the Colony. There was no explosive outbreak in any particular area thus making difficult the tracing of the possible foci of infection. The squatter population accounted for 16% of the total. whilst the non-squatter population at the lower economic levels accounted for 50% of the total number of cases notified. The latter came mainly from the congested tenements of the city, where poor

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personal hygiene, water restriction and economic stringency contributed to the increase in this disease. Immunization against typhoid fever was offered to the population, but the respouse was discouraging.

57. About 50% of the cases occurred in the 15-34 years age group. The disease continued to be particularly fatal to young male adults.

Dysenteries.

58. Amoebic dysentery notifications registered an increase of 30.5%, whilst bacillary dysentery showed a decrease of 10.2% as compared to the previous year. It will be noted that this is the reverse of 1951. There were 201 cases of amoebiasis with 7 deaths and 336 cases of bacillary dysentery with 22 deaths as compared with 164 cases of amoebiasis with 9 deaths and 374 cases of bacillary dysentery with 29 deaths in 1951.

Poliomyelitis.

69. There were 19 cases notified with 4 deaths as compared with 28 cases with 3 deaths in 1951. This disease does not reach epidemic proportions in Hong Kong. The Chinese popu- lation do not appear to be highly susceptible to it.

Diphtheria.

60. During the year there were 987 cases reported com- pared to 574 in 1951, an increase of over 70%. The month of December had a record notification of 282 cases. During the year there were 157 fatalities as against 121 in 1951. The disease mainly affected children in the 0-5 age group which comprised 48% of the total number of cases,

61. An immunization campaign was initiated with U.N.I.C.E.F. assistance towards the end of 1952. The object was to immunize 200,000 children in 2 years. This figure how- ever was exceeded before the end of March 1953 due to the excellent response of the public.

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