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6
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
But for three Outbreaks of infectious disease in
Institutions in the District, the year 1940 would have compared
very favourably indeed with its predecessors. A tot 1 of 284
cases of notifiable infectious disease other than tuberculosis
were notified, but of these 131 related to the 3 institutional
outbreaks,(20 scarlet fever, 43 paratyphoid and 68 dysentery).
Had it not been for these outbreaks the number of
notifications per 1,000 population would have been only 3.0
which was that experienced in 1939, than which only two lower
figures have been recorded, viz. 2.8 in 1937 and 2.1 in 1938.
as the institutional outbreaks have to be included,
the rate per 1,000 population was nearly 5.6 but even this is
less than the average rate for the decade 1915-1924, which was
6.7.
It will thus be seen that the amount of infectious
disease in the general population was very low, contrary to
pre-war expectations, although it should be noted that until
the second half of the year the effects of the war on the life
of the community were slight, evacuation and the lack of
ventilation accompanying the black-out being the two most
marked social changes considered likely to affect the health
of the community. To these were added, in the second half of
the year, the strain of very frequent air raiding and the acute
and prolonged herding together of people in various forms of
shelter which were generally speaking well below the standard
of hygiene normally enjoyed by the population. When it is
considered that for many this was in addition a period of
overwork, while the majority had their hours of sleep
considerably reduced it is surprising that more ill health
did not result. Judged by local results evacuation, as
evidenced by the outbreak of dysentery at Cane Hill, and
overcrowding in shelters, as occurred at Reedham, were the two
social changes having the most effect on the health of the
community, but both of them it will be noted were confined to
"closed" sections of the population.

Includes deaths from all forms of pneumonia.