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reduction of 99 from the previous year. The decrease is accounted for, almost exclusively, by the fall in the incidence of
measles.
Details showing age groups, sex and districts are given in the
table in the appendix.
Exclusion from work
From time to time it is necessary that a suspected "carrier" of,
or a person in contact with, an infectious disease should be precluded from work in order that the risk of transmission of the
disease is minimised. This is especially necessary when the person concerned is a "food handler".
National Insurance Act, 1946
Regulation 3(b) of the National Insurance (Unemployment and
Sickness Benefit) Regulations, 1948, made under the above Act,
enables any person excluded from work under the foregoing provisions to claim sickness benefit on production of a certificate
issued by the Medical Officer of Health.
In the Ministry of Health Circular 115/48 it has been suggested
that the Medical Officer of Health should be prepared to furnish
such a certificate if, in his opinion, circumstances are such that
this action becomes necessary.
Any sickness benefit would of course be taken into account
when compensation is made to a person for the loss occasioned
by his exclusion from work.
It was not found necessary during the course of the year to
take any action under Section 41 of the 1961 Public Health Act.
International Certificates
The International Sanitary Regulations prescribe forms of
International Certificates of Vaccination against Cholera, Smallpox and Yellow Fever. The form in respect of Smallpox was
amended by the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1966, and
the Public Health (Ships) Regulations, 1966, and the new form
became compulsory after the 1st January, 1967.
To be valid each certificate must bear an approved stamp
which certifies that the signature of the Vaccinator is that of a
practising medical practitioner.
During the year 7,157 certificates of persons proceeding abroad
were so authenticated. Of these 3,833 were in respect of Smallpox, 2,788 for Cholera, 176 for Typhoid, and 360 were recorded
for combined Cholera and Typhoid Vaccination.