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7
SECTION 1.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
CONTROL.
NOTIFICATION,
Notification is the essential preliminary to control
of infectious disease and as more and more has become
known about each transmissible infectious disease so has
it been made notifiable.
The diseases notifiable under the Public Health Act,
1936, are smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, membraneous croup,
erysipelas, scarlet fever, typhus, typhoid, enteric and
relapsing fever.
The Minister of Health has also made regulations whereby
the following diseases are also notifiable; plague, poliomyelitis,
tuberculosis, puerperal pyrexia, ophthalmia
neonatorum, malaria, dysentery, acute primary pneumonia,
acute influenzal pneumonia, measles, whooping cough, acute
encephalitis and meningococcal infection.
Food Poisoning is notifiable under the provisions of
the Food and Drugs Act of 1938.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS.
Since these diseases are as a rule most infective in
the early stages the importance of early diagnosis in the
prevention of spread of disease cannot be over emphasised.
It is important therefore that parents should be able to
recognise the early signs of the common infectious diseases.
As part of the health education campaign, topical
leaflets are distributed through the Town Hall and the
Public Libraries when any infectious disease is prevalent.
Leaflets describing the essential points of home
nursing of persons suffering from infections, and advice
as to disinfection are provided when necessary,
LABORATORY SERVICE.
The laboratory at King Edward Memorial Hospital continues
its fine and invaluable work in the diagnosis and
prevention of infectious disease. The Public Health Department
will arrange for the collection of specimens, e.g.
faeces and samples of suspected food or vomited material,
and for transmission to the King Edward Memorial Hospital
laboratory at the request of a general practitioner.