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33
Contact Examination
The examination and subsequent supervision of persons coming
into contact with patients suffering from tuberculosis plays an
important part in the prevention of the spread of infection.
During 1954, 820 persons were examined for the first time as
contacts of notified cases of tuberculosis, giving a contact-case
ratio of over 3 for each notified case during the year.
Of these contacts, 16 were found to be tuberculous. This is
equal to a tuberculosis rate per 1,000 contacts of 19, compared
with 1.34 per 1,000 of the general population. In addition, there
were 6 found to be tuberculous who had been under observation
from previous years.
The number of new contacts examined, together with the numbers
of new cases of Tuberculosis notified in previous years are as
follows:-
1953 - New contacts examined 668. New cases of tuberculosis 211
1952 - New contacts examined 661. New cases of tuberculosis 243
1951 - New contacts examined 562. New cases of tuberculosis 214
1950 - New contacts examined 561. New cases of tuberculosis 275
B. C. G. Vaccination
The use of B.C.G. vaccination for contacts has been extended
during 1954 and regular sessions are held at the Clinic for this
purpose. 281 contacts were successfully vaccinated during the
year, compared with 167 in 1953. In addition, 32 nurses and
domestics were successfully vaccinated, and 43 babies of tuberculous
parents were vaccinated in hospital during the neonatal
period.
During 1954 the Ministry of Health approved a pilot trial
for the B.C.G. vaccination of school leavers in one selected
school in the Borough. As a result of this trial 68 children over
the age of 13 years were successfully vaccinated.
It is hoped to repeat this trial during 1955, and over the
past year members of the medical staff of the Public Health
Department have attended some of the B.C. G. sessions at the Chest
Clinic to obtain experience of the procedure.
The response of parents to the B. C.G. vaccination for their
children has been good, and in a very few instances has permission
been refused.