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4
The number of cases of infectious diseases (excluding
tuberculosis) were very much higher than in
the preceding year, owing to an epidemic of scarlet
fever which continued for many months throughout
the whole of the Metropolitan area, but the prevalence
of the other notifiable infectious diseases compares very
favourably with that for the Metropolis. There was a
decided decrease in the number of notifications of cases
of tuberculosis.
With the outbreak of war it was expected that an
increased prevalence of disease would follow. Fortunately
this has not been the case, and the general
health of the population has remained quite good up to
the present.
During the year a number of Belgian refugees, the
majority of whom were destitute, were received in the
Borough and thereby involved a danger of the importation of infectious disease into the community, but up
to the present nothing of serious importance has resulted.
Towards the end of the year the White City was
taken over by the Territorial Association and used for
the purpose of housing troops. Unfortunately, many
cases of infectious disease occurred, measles and
scarlet fever being the most prevalent.
Olympia was taken over by the Military Authorities
and used as an internment camp. The number of alien
prisoners varied from 400 to 1,500. No serious outbreak
of infectious disease occurred amongst the
prisoners
In common with many other Medical Officers, I
was called upon to assist the Military Authorities and
make reports as to the sanitary condition of the camps
situated in the Borough. This led to an increased
amount of work, but did not seriously interfere with
the ordinary work of the Department.
I am, Gentleman,
Your obedient servant,
J. B. HOWELL,
Medical Officer of Health.