X1000307-1958-59_Part01 — Page 29

B.C.G. Vaccination of New Born Babies

212. The Tuberculosis Service has a staff of three B.C.G. Vaccinators employed full time on this work. These Vaccinators now visit the principal maternity hospitals three times cach week instead of twice each week as in previous years. The babies are vaccinated by the multipuncture method using 20 mgm/c.c. vaccine. The vaccine is also available free to private practitioners, midwives in private practice and private hospitals.

213. Of the total of 196,624 births known to have occurred during 1958, some 46.8% was vaccinated with B.C.G.; the percentage for the two previous years was 37.5% and 24% respectively. In view of the very encouraging decline in the death rate from all forms of tuberculosis in children under five, every effort is being made to increase still further the percentage of new born babies protected.

B.C.G. Vaccination of other Age Groups

214. Tuberculin testing is done by the Mantoux test using five Inter- national Tuberculin Units of Purified Protein Derivative obtained from Copenhagen in bulk. Those with negative reactions are vaccinated by the intradermal route using vaccine of 1 mgm/c.c, strength. Tuberculin testing and vaccination are carried out as routine measures in the Chest Clinics for tuberculosis contacts, in the School Health Service and in the Maternal and Child Health Service. The Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association also maintains a full time B.C.G. Clinic. The total number of persons tuberculin tested at these clinics was 29.107 of whom 10,390 were vaccinated subsequently.

X-ray Surveys

215. All Government employees are medically examined, including a chest X-ray, before being appointed to any post and an annual X-ray survey is carried out thereafter. All prisoners undergoing a sentence at the Stanley and Lai Chi Kok Prisons are similarly examined. Surveys are carried out on the request of private firms who will agree to give periods of sick leave to employees found to be suffering from tuberculosis and who guarantee their re-employment when fit to return to work.

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216. Surveys of these three groups carried out during the year gave the following results:

TABLE 16

Government Private Prisoners

Employees Firms

39,420

8,768

6,279

4.901

1,145

946

1.38

1.88

6.24

Total X-rayed

Examined clinically

Active tuberculosis percentage

217. An interesting finding in the annual X-ray survey of Govern- ment employees is that the percentage of incidence of new cases remains constant at 0.23%.

218. School teachers in Government schools are X-rayed annually in the course of the survey of Government employees. Teachers taking up first appointments in private schools are required to under-go an X-ray of the chest before they are permitted to teach and the certifying agency is the Medical and Health Department. Of those who attend the Government Chest Clinics for assessment and certification a disturbingly high percentage have active tuberculosis. The situation over the past four years has been as follows:

TABLE 17

1955

1956

1957

1958

348 36

455

318

249

53

23

10.6% 10.7% 16.6

9.2%

Referred to Chest Clinics Unfit to teach because of tuberculosis Percentage unfit

219. Teachers found unfit to teach because of tuberculosis are permitted to resume work as soon as it is judged that they can do so without risk to the health of their pupils. There is complete freedom of choice as to where treatment is obtained but priority treatment is available at Government chest clinics and immediate admission to hospital is arranged where necessary.

MALARIA BUREAU

220. The Malaria Bureau undertakes the responsibility for malaria control throughout the Colony, which is divided into 'protected' and 'non-protected areas. The Malariologist in charge is assisted by two Senior Malaria Inspectors, eleven Malaria Inspectors, one clerk and a labour force of some 250 gangers and labourers. For the greater part of the year there was a Medical Officer also working full time with the Bureau as Assistant Malariologist.

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