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21
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Measles was prevalent following the usual two years cycle. The
Public Health Laboratory Service carried out a national survey
through local health departments and family doctors, to ascertain
how serious were the complications of this infection.
Follow up of the results is still continuing. On the final findings
will depend decisions about vaccination to prevent measles.
From Dr. Linehan' s report it seems that number of patients
suffering from measles who needed admission to hospital for the
treatment of complications was less than usual.
Sonne Dysentery was somewhat prevalent, and although maintaining
its usual mild character, one death was recorded in an elderly
person, seriously ill from other causes.
A small outbreak of Para typhoid B. infection occurred in one
ward of a general hospital, involving 6 patients and 4 staff.
Three patients gravely ill from other causes died. Very thorough
investigations both within the hospital and the community failed
to trace the source of infection of the first case. In my view
it originated outside the hospital and spread might have been
prevented by a rule to isolate or at least barrier nurse, any
febrile patient suffering from diarrhoea, despite a firm clinical
diagnosis of a non-infectious condition.
There was an increase in the number of cases of Food Poisoning,
and special investigations were carried out in an effort to help
the staff at the Central Salmonella Laboratory who are trying
to establish specific sources of this infection.