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13
3
INFECTIVE DISEASES
The number of deaths from all notifiable infectious diseases was
74. This included 25 from all forms of tuberculosis and 48 from the
notifiable forms of pneumonia. There was one death from meningococcal
meningitis.
From all notifiable infective diseases the death-rate was 0.21 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 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 staff
of the Public Health Department.
Additional work in connection with smallpox now devolves on
the public health staff by reason of the fact that, under the Public
Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1952-63, persons arriving in this
country by air, who are not in possession of valid international
certificates of vaccination against smallpox, must be placed under
surveillance for up to 14 days. It is now the prevailing practice of
the Airport Health Control Units to inform local authorities of any
persons arriving by air who are proceeding to addresses in their
areas, in order that those authorities may arrange the necessary
surveillance.
With the ever increasing flow of air travel, more and more people
come to this country to stay, permanently or otherwise, and consequently,
many notifications are received by the Health Department
from Airport Authorities in accordance with the Regulations.
Diphtheria
Several suspected cases were reported and investigated but in no
case was the diagnosis confirmed.
Whooping Cough
Three hundred and thirty-seven cases were notified during the
year. No death occurred.