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Age Groups. Vaccinated in Infancy. Unvaccinated. Vaccination doubtful. Totals.
Under 1 year - - - -
1 to 2 years — 1 — 1
2 to 3 „ — — — —
3to 4 „ - - - -
1 to 5 „ - 1 - 1
5 to 10 „ — 8 — 8
10 to 15 „ - 10 - 10
15 to 20 „ - 13 - 13
20 to 35 „ 3 9 - 12
35 to 45 „ 2 1 - 3
45 to 65 „ 6 1 — 7
65 and upwards - - - -
Totals 11 44 - 55
Public Health (Smallpox Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
During the year under review, no vaccinations were performed
by the Medical Officer of Health under the Public Health (Smallpox
Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
Diphtheria.
During the year 507 cases of diphtheria were notified, as compared
with 483 in 1932. 492 cases, equal to 97.04 per cent, were
removed to an Isolation Hospital and 24 (4.73 per cent.) were found
after admission to Hospital not to be suffering from diphtheria or
any other infectious disease and were discharged. "Return"
cases numbered 4. Inquiries at the homes of these patients revealed
that in one instance the original patient developed a nasal discharge
within one month of returning home.
Twenty deaths from this disease occurred during the year,
equivalent to a mortality rate of 3.9 per cent., as compared with
2.9 per cent, in 1932. The attention of medical practitioners is
periodically drawn to the necessity of giving anti-toxin forthwith,
or sending the patient into Hospital whenever a diagnosis of
diphtheria could not be ruled out.
The capability of diphtheria anti-toxin to prevent death varies
indirectly with the interval which elapses between the onset of the
disease and the giving of anti-toxin serum. The delay of waiting
for the result of the examination of a swab in suspected cases may
mean the difference between a mild or severe attack and even
death of the patient.
Anti-toxin in phials containing 500 units for prophylactic
and 8,000 units for treatment purposes is available free of charge
to medical practitioners during the day between the hours of