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55
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
General
The total number of notified cases of infectious disease showed
a moderate increase compared with the previous year, 1,349 cases
being reported compared with 780 during 1968. The principal
reason for this was an increase in the number of cases of Measles,
although a full scale epidemic of this infection, which could
have been anticipated during the year, did not occur. The
avoidance of a major outbreak can almost certainly be attributed to
the success of the recently introduced immunising procedure, but
further progress depends upon increasing the number of children
who are protected. This, in turn, depends upon parents ensuring
that their children are able to take advantage of this protective
measure, if they have not already received it, and have not
acquired immunity as a result of an attack of the disease.
A very gratifying feature of the year was a considerable fall in
the number of cases of Whooping Cough reported, and once again
I am pleased to say that there were no cases of Diphtheria and
Poliomyelitis in the Borough. The incidence of the other notifiable
infectious diseases also remained at a low level throughout the year,
although figures for gastro-intestinal infections in general showed a
continued need for vigilance in respect of food hygiene and
personal hygiene in the kitchen if the number of these infections
is to be kept at a low level.
A single case of Typhoid Fever was reported, and attention
should be drawn to the recommendation of the Department of
Health that vaccination against this condition should be considered
before taking a holiday abroad.
As a whole, the figures of notifiable disease throughout the
year remained at a very satisfactory level, thus continuing the good
record the Borough has enjoyed in this respect during previous
years.
Statistical details of the various infectious diseases are given
below under separate headings, and unless otherwise stated, no
deaths from these infections occurred.
Diphtheria
Once again no case of Diphtheria was notified in the Borough
during the year.
Dysentery
79 cases were notified, an increase compared with the previous
year when only 17 cases were reported. The majority of cases
occurring in the present year were recorded in the Spring and
early Summer, and affected pupils attending a Primary School in
the Borough. All the reported cases were of the mild sonne type.