1940-10-05 — Page 7

Second Section

Hongkong Telegraph.

CHOLERA!

¿_____ SATURDAY OCTOBER 5, 1940.

Magazine Features

Since 1937, cholera has killed 2,138 men, women and children in the Colony-more than half those attacked. In this article, specially written for the Hong- kong Telegraph", a Medical Officer tells how the disease is caused and what is being done here to prevent its rav- ages.

The disease is caused by the vibrio, of cholera, a small or- ganlam which so resembles a comma in shape that it has been referred to L the comma bacillus. It is transmitted from one person to another through. contaminated food, water or milk. Contamination may be made directly through files.

In other words, cholera is always associated with filth and fles.

Tills major dircase is endemic in many parts of China, and usually flares.

up during hot weather when conditions are most favourable to the growth of the causative organ- isms and the spread of the discasc.

This is why epidemics in Hong- kong usually commence in May and continue to the end

end of September. This year has been exceptional in that the first cases reported of the heavy rains experienced during the beginning of summer that helped to elean the streets and flush the drains.

Incidence of cholera in the Colony during the past few years, was as follows:

Cases Deaths

1937

1,401

7776

-1938-

547

903

1939

.708

448

-1940 (to date).

821

551

Totala

3,477

2,138

This year the outbreak oc- curred when there was every. renson to hope that the Colony would escape, but the outbreak, after a late arrival rapidly as sumed serious epidemic propor- tions....

The first case was found on Aug. 23, and 413, enses were reported for the week ending Sept. 14. More than

cases occurred within a period of 24 hours in that week.

Only 10 cases occurred during the week to believe that epide

Sopt. 28, and there is mic is now

control. under Kowloon City suffered most, · ផន could be sanitation

every reas011

cases, owing to lack of

and

'produced · 400 came next

neist of the 204.

Many, perhaps most,

were

infected in Kowloon City: The Is- jand returned 105 cases, but many of these could be traced back to the chief focus-Kowloon City.

In all, 7 cases were imported from. Macau.

Preventative measures taken included the cleaning of all in- fected areas, with special atten- tion being paid to markets, food shops, etc., and 95 per cent. of employees in food shops and restaurants were inoculated dur ing the summer months, and were thus protected before the epidemic arrived,

Mass inoculations of between 300,- 000 and 400,000 people were carried

dut

Restrictions were placed o on aft

passengers || from cholera-infected port, including Macau Extra-een- vengera were employed in Kowloon Cityto clear the area. Well shallow

and contamluntedwere chlorinated and subsequently re- placed by 27 stand pipes. Installed by the Water Authorities in 30 days

which was excellent work

being

Six permanent latrines are erected by the P.W.D. in Kowloon City and should be ready at the end of this month Temporary latrines, vo at Kowloon City and Ihrdeni Kop Shick Mul, are now neatly com ploted.

23

Tho a pleturos, takeń byn Staff” Photo- graphor)"; show

how

cholera bagins and

how it can be fought.

Photographs Wors

taken

機票 Kowloon

City! my

Dirty water being,

used for washing,

21 A woman drawing

water from 'a' prohi. bited well. A govern iment atand-pipe of

good water is only a low feet away

3 Dirty food covered with Aller which carry cholera,

4A dirty and stag- nant drain being swept up by the authorities,

5: Chlorinating A dangerous.WTQUE

Or Three

wells. They have now been filled in...

71 The Water Board has not up 27 now standpipes in Kowloon City.

Bi

Temporary.

trines.

Ja.

D: Now 1střínos under construction.

„10%; p & Fun O dump whare

De villagara now. Ihave, rubbish' tö be pollected twichma