ENG-1953 — Page 122

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953

cases only come under medical care when the disease has pro- gressed so far that the effect of treatment is less certain, and very often recourse has to be had to tracheotomy to save life. Nevertheless, the falling case fatality rate is encouraging evidence of increasing appreciation of the value of available medical services.

In the first quarter of the year a vigorous immunization campaign was launched, following

following intensive propaganda. The response was unexpectedly good, so good that at times the supply organization was embarrassed having planned the arrival of vaccine in the Colony on the basis of past experience. At one stage, supplies of toxoid ran out and had to be re- plenished by air lift from the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The greater part of the vaccine for this campaign was supplied by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Children in the age range 6 months to 10 years were offered protection. The total number during the year to receive the first injection of toxoid was 195,797, and the total number fully immunised was 154,377.

Cerebro-spinal meningitis. This infection, so liable to become epidemic in conditions of overcrowding, showed only endemic incidence. Preventive measures cannot claim credit for this and there is the ever present possibility of the occur- rence of cases reaching epidemic proportions, particularly in the cold weather. In present circumstances, there is practicable action to counter this threat.

The number of cases occurring was 12 and there were 5 deaths, exactly the same figures as in 1952.

Measles. There was no major epidemic outbreak of this infection but the incidence remained not inconsiderable and, among the infectious diseases, it was a not unimportant cause of mortality. Cases notified numbered 661 and 50 deaths were attributed to this cause, giving a case fatality rate of 7.56%, as

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