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PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND
OTHER DISEASES.
During the year 2,751 notifications of infectious diseases
(excluding tuberculosis) were received at the Public Health
Department. Of these cases 62 were subsequently found not to
be suffering from the disease stated on the certificate.
A table of infectious diseases notifications showing the
cases not confirmed, those treated in hospitals, deaths and age
distribution appears on page 27. It will be seen that no cases of
the following diseases were notified : —
Smallpox.
Continued Fever.
Relapsing Fever.
Hydrophobia.
Glanders.
Typhus Fever.
Acute Polio-Encephalitis.
Plague.
Cholera.
Anthrax.
Diphtheria.
In areas such as Camberwell where immunisation treatment
has been available to the inhabitants for many years, the
incidence of diphtheria has fallen considerably. Of the 46
patients notified by medical practitioners as suffering from
diphtheria, an amended diagnosis was made in 31 instances,
thus reducing the number of confirmed cases to 15. In only
one instance had the patient previously received immunisation
treatment; the attack was not severe. There were no deaths
from this disease.
Diphtheria Anti-Toxin.
Diphtheria anti-toxin was provided by the Council free of
charge for the use of general medical practitioners. Diphtheria
is difficult to diagnose clinically, and if there is any suspicion
of this disease, anti-toxin should be given as early as possible
and the patient admitted to hospital for observation.