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40
Vaccination.
The following figures, which have been furnished by the County
Medical Officer, show the number of persons who were vaccinated
against smallpox during the year 1950: —
Age to 31.12.50. Under 1. 1 to 4. 5 to 14. 15 or over. Total.
Number Vaccinated 443 364 64 45 916
Number Re-vaccinated — 7 43 150 200
Scarlet Fever.
Two hundred and seventy-five cases were notified (196 during
1949), of which 153 were treated in hospital and 122 home nursed.
There were ten return cases.
The infection continued to be mild in character and no deaths
from this disease were recorded.
The continued lack of seriousness in the symptoms of this disease
in the majority of cases, gives just cause for gratification, but whether
this is a temporary or permanent feature will only be able to be judged
with the passage of time. If one studies the incidence and life history
of scarlet fever over many years, it is a striking fact that there have
been periodical waves of alternating seriousness and mildness, and it
may well be that we are now in the trough of the wave with the crest
to be found at some future date. Whether this present attenuation is
due to a building up in the resistance of the population or to a
weakening in virulence of the infecting organism is not clear, but
whatever the cause, the future of this disease will need constant
vigilance.
Diphtheria.
Although six cases of suspected diphtheria were admitted to
hospital, they were not confirmed and the continued absence of this
disease gives cause for considerable gratification. The diphtheria
immunisation campaign is still being kept up, but despite this, there
is still quite a large percentage of children who have never been
immunised. It is, therefore, impossible to say that immunisation is
the only factor concerned in the control of this disease.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
During the year 1950, a total of 755 children received Primary
Inoculations and 513 Reinforcing Inoculations.
A total of 10,661 children under the age of 15 years had
completed a course of immunisation (since 1st January, 1936), at the
31st December, 1950. This is equivalent to approximately 54 per cent.
of the population under 15 years of age.