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51
Diphtheria.
The incidence of this disease has decreased, the
number of notifications received being 124 compared
with 160 for the previous year. As in former years the
bulk of cases occurred between the ages of one and 15
years.
Of the total cases notified, all except one were
admitted to the Joint Hospital; this remaining one was
sent to another hospital.
Fuller information regarding the course of the
disease in a few cases who had received immunisation
treatment is given under the heading Diphtheria
Immunisation later in the report.
Death Rate.
The second table on the previous page shows that
12 deaths were registered as due to Diphtheria, this being
the same number as recorded in 1937. The case mortality
rate is 9.7 per cent., which exceeds that for the
previous year.
Secondary Cases.
There were only two secondary cases during the
year which is truly remarkable, and is further testimony
that dispensing with disinfection as formerly practised,
is not a contributory factor in spreading infection from
this disease. No return cases occurred during the year.
Schools and Diphtheria.
A table has been prepared showing the age groups
of the children affected and the schools attended by
them. The disease was spread fairly evenly throughout
the schools, no particular one showing an abnormal
number of cases.
The total number of school children
affected was 93 against 115 for the year 1937.