ENG-1986 — Page 158

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HEALTH

The concerted efforts of the different departments involved in the imposition and enforcement of the various stringent food hygiene measures helped greatly to arouse public awareness of the cholera problem and no further local cases were reported from August 6. As a result, Hong Kong was declared to be cholera free on August 19.

In the latter part of the year four further imported cases and one local case of cholera were confirmed.

Two cases of rabies in humans were reported during the year. Both were persons who had been bitten by dogs while in China and who developed symptoms after their return to Hong Kong. In these two cases, a 68-year-old woman died in March, and a 37-year-old man died in August. The single indigenous case of animal rabies was reported in November.

During the year, 143 cases of malaria were notified, most of them imported cases, with the probable sources of infection in China, Pakistan, Vietnam and India. Eight indigenous cases were identified in the same period. These cases occurred in Sai Kung, Yuen Long, North New Territories districts, and Ping Chau (Mirs Bay).

All notified malaria cases were thoroughly investigated and followed up by regional health staff. This active surveillance programme was undertaken to minimise the possibility of a build-up of parasite density in the local community and to ensure that all practicable prevention and treatment programmes were being instituted effectively. With the establish- ment of the Central Reference Laboratory for malaria, all positive slides as well as 10 per cent of negative slides were routinely cross-checked for the presence of the parasite.

Malaria control in the territory is concentrated on early case detection and notification, vector control and health education.

Health talks, film shows, posters, pamphlets, press releases, radio and television inter- views are used to remind the general public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to urge picnickers and international travellers to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Tuberculosis remains an important disease in Hong Kong. In spite of continued diligence and a dynamic programme in the fight against the disease, the total number of notifications was 7 432 in 1986, representing a notification rate of 134.33 per 100 000. The local BCG immunisation scheme effectively covered some 99 per cent of the new born. Booster doses were also given to primary school children and to new immigrant children after initial mantoux test. Death from tuberculosis continued to fall from 409 in 1985 to 407 in 1986 and the death rate from 7.5 to 7.36 per 100 000.

Measles and rubella vaccination programmes were carried out in family health clinics and schools. Measles vaccinations were given to one-year-old babies and rubella vaccina- tions to girls in Primary 6 classes. The coverage was in the region of 80 per cent and 97 per cent respectively.

To increase the protection of the at-risk group, namely women at child-bearing age, the rubella vaccinations were made available to the nurses, teachers and social workers who are in constant contact with children. These vaccinations are also given to eligible women attending the various Family Health Services clinics.

Both virus hepatitis A and hepatitis B remain prevalent in the community with 1424 notified cases and 18 deaths reported during the year. Because of the public health implications of hepatitis, which usually leads to long-term liver complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancers, a hepatitis B vaccination programme was introduced as a prevention against the disease.

Based on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation, the present strategy is to provide immunisation against hepatitis B to certain high-risk groups in the community. The first group comprises babies born to mothers who are carriers of the disease. The