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27
Tuberculosis
The increase in the number of new cases of tuberculosis of the lungs which occurred
in 1958 was fortunately not repeated in 1959. There was a substantial drop in the number
of those found suffering from this infection, but nevertheless close on 400 new cases
represents a very substantial volume of long-term sickness. Among men the proportion of
new cases is fairly evenly distributed over all age groups from 15 years onwards In women,
however, the greatest proportion of new cases are in young adult life, i.e. between the
ages of 15 and 35. It is obvious that a breakdown in health of young women many of whom
must be mothers of young children, is a most serious matter for the family. A similar
consideration, of course, applies to men who may be breadwinners for the family and who
because of the long period of treatment required, may have their earnings substantially
reduced temporarily or even permanently. In the case of men there is also the added family
risk of the elderly person with a chronic cough who has not sought medical advice as
early as he should have done and who may have unwittingly exposed others to his infection
during this time.

Bates per 1,000 population:
New cases : pulmonary 1.66 non-pulmonary 0.10
Deaths : pulmonary 0.12 non-pulmonary 0.004
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1952.