ENG-1952 — Page 136

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952

(a) Enteric Fever.

There was a further increase in the number of cases of this disease reported during the year. The incidence has risen steadily since 1946, as shown below :-

Year

Cases

Deaths

Case fatality rate

1946

221

115

50%

1947

246

61

25%

1948

311

69

22.2%

1949

408

89

21.8%

1950

907

160

17.6%

1951

1,024

134

13.1%

1952

1,230

158

12.8%

The reason for this increase is related to the poor sanitation and general overcrowding that prevails in parts of the Colony. It is, however, of interest to note that cases reported from the squatter areas formed only 16% of the total. The infection was widespread throught the Colony but, naturally, occurred with the greatest frequence in the areas of the highest population density. As in previous years the highest incidence was recorded during the summer months, while during the cooler months there was a drop.

Anti-typhoid inoculation was provided on a wide scale and the public health staff concentrated their efforts on the supervision of the restaurants and the handling of food.

(b) The Dysenteries.

Although there was an increase of 30.5% in the cases of amoebic dysentery recognized, cases of bacil- lary dysentery showed a decrease of 10.2% as compared

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