REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS + 65

plegias. A specific diabetic control program was reactivated this
year to provide better supervision of the diabetes clinic, better follow-
up of the patients, better patient education and more instruction in the
self-administration of insulin. A recent diabetic survey revealed
over 200 cases of diabetes and some of these have been placed on the
Home Care program. As is true elsewhere in the United States, heart
disease was the leading cause of death in the Virgin Islands. Cancer
is the second leading cause of death in the Virgin Islands. Principal
among the various sites and types is that of cancer of the cervix.
The Cancer Screening program was initiated during May 1962.
Weekly clinics are held in St. Thomas and St. Croix.
 Due to outbreak of smallpox in Europe, a mass immunization pro-
gram was instituted in the Virgin Islands. To date, 8,714 persons
have been immunized. The Bureau of Chronic and Communicable
Diseases also conducted routine immunizations for the entire Virgin
Islands. Two important surveys were made in an attempt to eradi-
cate venereal disease. Alien cane cutters, brought into St. Croix by
the Virgin Islands Corporation, were examined for venereal disease
and filariasis in the first survey. As a result, 110 V.D. cases were
discovered in St. Croix and 27 V.D. cases were discovered in St.
Thomas. This survey also revealed a total of 17 positive cases of
filariasis. The second survey was a venereal disease examination of
the high school population in St. Thomas. Ten positive cases were
detected in a total of 858 students examined. As a result of both
surveys, intensive followup on cases and contacts has been instituted
to control the incidence of venereal disease and effective measures are
being instituted to prevent the reintroduction of filariasis into the
Virgin Islands.

Bureau of Environmental Sanitation
 The lack of an adequate water supply, inadequate sewage disposal
and substandard housing continue to provide real problems in en-
vironmental sanitation in the Virgin Islands. While this is typical
of any community of low economic standing, the development of tour-
ism in the Virgin Islands is dependent on accelerated progress in
eliminating these major sources of sanitation problems.
 The problem of nightsoil elimination is complex. The majority,
of the houses now receiving nightsoil services are substandard. The
cost of installing adequate sanitary facilities in these homes is, in most
cases, equal to more than the assessed valuation of the house. As a
result, most landlords prefer to withdraw the property from the
rental market and evict the tenants, rather than install the facilities.