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times during the year. Information regarding these contacts was
received from the Port Health Authorities.
The department was called upon to authenticate the signature
of the doctor on 6,813 International Certificates of Vaccination
during the year, the figure for 1968 being 6,893.
Tetanus
One case of Tenanus was notified during the year. The patient,
who recovered, was an adult employed in an outdoor occupation
and had not previously been inoculated against the disease.
Tuberculosis
50 new cases were notified during 1969 compared with 54
during 1968, continuing the decline in new cases which has been a
feature of recent years. If the infection is to be eliminated, however,
there is a continuing need for vigilance and the continuance of
preventative measures to achieve this result. Assistance in tracing
contacts of new cases is given by members of the Health Visiting
staff attached to work with the local Chest Physicians. Also, BCG
vaccination, which gives protection against the disease, is offered to
all school children during their 13th year. It might seem, too, that
it could be premature at this stage to reduce the services provided
by the Mass X-Ray Units which, under the auspices of the S.E.
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, pay regular visits to
different sites in the Borough.
The total number of cases on the register showed a further
decline during the year from 2,922 to 2,823. There were 6 deaths
attributed to the disease compared with 9 in 1968. In both these
respects it is pleasing to report that the general improvement is
continued.