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133
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
(i) NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The statistical tables in regard to notifiable infectious
diseases during the year will be found on pages 134 to
137.
There was a slight increase in the number of cases
of notifiable disease during the year, when compared
with 1937. The number of cases of scarlet fever
increased from 245 to 263, and the number of cases of
diphtheria from 155 to 164. The type of diphtheria
was not of the virulent type known as the gravis type,
but it would appear that the incidence of diphtheria
itself has increased and this, as it is repeatedly emphasised,
can only be overcome by mass immunisation.
There were 14 deaths from diphtheria as against 5 for
the year 1937.
Research work at the Pathological Laboratory with
regard to streptococcal infections has been carried on
during the year, and there is close co-operation between
Dr. F. E. Camps of Chelmsford and ourselves. No
report is yet available because the work is still in progress.
It is worthy of note that there were only three cases
of acute anterior poliomyelitis notified during the year.