ENG-1981 — Page 137

HEALTH.

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preventive, curative, promotive and rehabilitative health measures by the health authority which have contributed to low mortality rates and a decline in the incidence of major communicable diseases.

The leading causes of death are various forms of cancer, heart diseases and cerebrovas- cular diseases. The low infant mortality is due mainly to the provision of comprehen- sive family health care as well as improvements in environmental and social economic conditions.

Because of stringent health measures, Hong Kong has been free from quarantinable diseases for many years, and 1981 was no exception. During the year three imported cases of cholera were reported. All cases were promptly treated and the disease was effectively contained without spreading to the local public.

Rabies re-appeared in the New Territories after 25 years in October 1980, claiming two human lives and 16 dogs since the outbreak. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department took swift measures by stepping up stray dog patrols, setting up inoculation centres for dogs and prohibiting the free movement of dogs into and out of the infected area. In early 1981, the Directors of Agriculture and Fisheries and Medical and Health Services visited the health authorities in Guangzhou to discuss effective measures in controlling the spread of the disease around the border area.

A medical advisory committee on rabies was set up and five special centres for the pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment of the disease were established to cope with the situation.

Although there has been a constant increase in the number of malaria cases reported, all were imported and were detected amongst travellers and refugees from nearby countries. The Medical and Health Department and the New Territories Services Department have stepped up anti-malarial measures for controlling the vector and the disease.

In spite of a slight upsurge of tuberculosis patients detected in the Chest Service, the incidence of tuberculosis and the number of deaths resulting from it remained low. A large proportion of the increase was found among new arrivals and refugees. The local population who have been given BCG vaccinations are effectively immuned. At present up to 99 per cent of the local new-borns are covered by BCG vaccination and the programme is being gradually extended to cover all the children of new arrivals and refugees.

The rubella immunisation programme covering girls aged 11 to 14 years, which has been conducted in schools since 1978, was actively extended into the community to cover non-immune women of child-bearing age. A registry for congenital rubella was set up and by the end of the year some 25 confirmed cases were recorded.

With outbreaks of pediculosis infestations being reported among some urban and rural schools, regional health staff initiated a succession of screening and treatment programmes in which more than 3 000 children were treated. Health educational activities were directed towards emphasising the importance of maintaining an adequate standard of personal hygiene.

Hospitals

There are three types of hospitals in Hong Kong - government, government-assisted, and private - with a total of 21 586 beds representing 4.2 beds per thousand of the population (institutions operated by the Armed Forces are not included). The four major regional hospitals are the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Kwong Wah and Princess Margaret hospitals.