Drop In Disease After Campaign

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31919, 21 February 1969, Page 20

Drop In Disease After Campaign

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 20. A drop in new cases of one type of venereal disease by nearly 150 in Auckland last year is believed by Health Department officials to be due to a vigorous education campaign.

The decrease occurred in gonorrhoea, which has been more widespread in New Zealand than syphilis.

National figures are not yet complete for last year, but from figures available in Auckland it is known that Auckland and Christchurch gonorrhoea totals are down— Christchurch by about 100, the total of new cases being about 450. Dunedin totals, however, are up by between 100 and 150, and the Wellington total rose from just under 500 to nearly 600. When the New Zealand venereal disease total began climbing rapidly three years ago, in line with overseas trends, the Health Department began a campaign to highlight the dangers. The deputy medical officer of health for Auckland (Dr R. J. Flight) said today that it seemed clear that the halting of this rise was due to education measures in schools, universities and among apprentices and factory workers, together with

more concentrated efforts to trace contacts, particularly women.

New cases of gonorrhoea in Auckland last year, with the 1967 figures in brackets, are: Males 544 (788), females 191 (193).

Health officers say it is a good feature that figures for women are not dropping sharply, as this indicates that more women are being reached by follow-up measures.

Auckland syphilis figures are; Males 26 (23), females 7 (3).