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The vaccinal state of the total population is not known with any degree
of accuracy, but reasonably accurate records are available in respect of
children under five years of age. At the end of 1956, 49% of the children in
this age group had been vaccinated. This figure has risen steadily from 25%
in 1948 when the arrangements were transferred from the public vaccinators
and became part of the present health services provided under Part III
of the National Health Service Act. It is now at its highest level since 1948.

The estimated number of children under five years of age vaccinated
at the end of 1956, was 1,700.
Enteric Fever
There were no cases of typhoid or paratyphoid fever.
Dysentery
No significant outbreak of dysentery occurred in 1956, such as has
been experienced from time to time in years past. Control of the dissemination
of intestinal infection of this nature is largely a matter of personal
hygiene, since it is readily conveyed by infected hands to food and thus
from one member of the family to another. With improving standards of
domestic hygiene particularly in the handling of food, outbreaks of dysentery,
as with all food-borne infection, should become less frequent and less
extensive. Fifteen cases occurred in 1956 of which 14 were confirmed
bacteriologically as due to the Sonne organism. Eleven occurred in January
and affected four families, the remaining four occurred in March (1),
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