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SECTION F
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
GENERAL:
No serious outbreaks of infectious diseases occured during the
year, and there were no cases of Poliomyelitis.
There were a number of cases of Dysentery, mostly in connection
with day nurseries and also a considerable number of cases of
Measles. The instance of these diseases continued to be a considerable
nuisance in nurseries and schools, but otherwise of
little importance.
A number of cases of Scarlet Fever occurred, none of which
were in themselves serious, but they served to warn of the continued
prevalence of the responsible organism which is capable of
causing other more serious conditions.
As neither Infective Hepatitis or Rubella (German Measles) are
notifiable, no exact information as to the number of cases occurring
is available, but from the number of cases reported, it is
clear that these diseases occurred in almost epidemic proportion.
In no case was Rubella reported in any woman in early pregnancy
nor was any contact discovered who was known to be in that condition.
All cases are visited by the Nurse Visitor, and general advice
has been given on the precautions that need to be taken in its
control; letters from the Medical Officer of Health setting out
some of the principle points being delivered by her. Detailed
enquiries are made as well as arrangements for the examination of
contacts, and their exclusion as well as the patient from school
or work where appropriate. In the occasional case where it may
be desirable to exclude a contact from work the appropriate certificate
under the National Insurance Act is given.
These visits are of considerable value in limiting the spread
of infections, and are in the main, greatly appreciated both by
the Doctors and the patients or their parents. In some cases
where it may appear to the Visitor that further medical treatment
is necessary, the calling in of medical advice has been recommended.
In 1961, 1,987 visits were paid by the Nurse Visitor.
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