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INFECTIVE DISEASES
The number of deaths from all notifiable infectious diseases was
95. This included 48 from all forms of tuberculosis and 46 from the
notifiable forms of pneumonia. There was one death from poliomyelitis.
From all notifiable infective diseases the death-rate was 0.28 per
1,000.
Table I shows the number of cases of the notifiable diseases
reported, arranged in age groups, and Table II shows the same figures
arranged in the sub-district in which they occurred.
Smallpox
No case occurred in the Borough during the year.
Notification is received from Port and Local Authorities of persons
coming into the Borough who may have been in contact with Smallpox.
Observation for the necessary period is kept on these persons by
members of the Public Health Department.
Diphtheria
One case only was bacteriologically confirmed, in the person of a
staff nurse at one of the local hospitals. Where it was considered
advisable, nose and throat swabs from patients of the ward in which
the nurse worked were bacteriologically examined, all with negative
results.
Several other cases were reported and investigated as suspected
diphtheria during the year, but in all cases, the diagnosis was not
confirmed.
Scarlet Fever
Three hundred and one cases were notified compared with
235 in 1957 and 202 in 1956. The diagnosis was not confirmed in one
case.
No deaths occurred.
Whooping Cough
One hundred and twenty-six cases were notified.
There were no deaths.
Measles
The number of cases notified during the year was 1,602 compared
with 3,802 in 1957, 677 in 1956 and 5,206 in 1955.
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