View report page

It will be noted that the age distribution has quite definitely
changed and that it can no longer be called Infantile Paralysis.
An analysis of recent outbreaks revealed the facts that about one
third of the cases occurred in children under five years, one third
in the 5-15 years of age group and one third in persons above 15
years of age. This difference in the age distribution may be due
to a change in the type of virus causing the disease or a change in
the resistance acquired in childhood. It has been shown that in
countries where hygiene is good the age of onset is postponed and
so, therefore, is the immunity states.
Investigation into the disease has shown that the virus
causing poliomyelitis is very infectious and is spread by the
pharyngeal and intestinal excretions of infected persons.
Laboratory studies have shown that all infected persons do
not show symptoms and indeed, that for every person showing
symptoms there may be as many as 10 to 100 infected persons
without symptoms. Close contact appears to be an important
factor in the spread of disease. Investigations have indicated that
infection tends to follow the lines of communication of human
beings, affecting particularly those from infected households, and the
extent of the spread is to a large extent dependent upon the closeness
of contact exposed persons have with the infected persons. These
abortive cases present a great public health problem, and emphasise
the need for close supervision of all who have been in close contact
with a proved case.
Tuberculosis.
The number of cases notified this year remains practically the
same but the number of deaths from this disease fell from 40 in
1952 to 29 in 1953 a fall of no less than 27.5%.
Young children of the age of 2, 3 and 4 years are 'Jelly Tested'
at the Infant Welfare Clinics. The Chest Clinic follows up the
contacts of notified cases of tuberculosis and B.C.G. vaccination
is offered in appropriate cases.