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8
PREVALENCE.
3,335 cases of Infectious Disease were notified in
the Borough during the year, Of these 49 were proved not
to have suffered from the disease for which they were
originally notified reducing the corrected number of cases
of Infectious Disease during the year to 3, 286.
In 1954 there were 1,284 cases originally notified
and these were reduced by correction to 1,154. The difference
can be attributed to the incidence of measles.
There were 2, 422 cases compared with 132 in the previous
year.
CERTIFICATION.
When contacts of infectious persons are excluded from
work on account of potential risk to others, a certificate
is provided to ensure the payment of benefits under the
National Insurance Act.
DISINFECTION,
Books which have been handled by infectious persons
are stored in a formalin box for three weeks before being
returned to a library.
DIPHTHERIA.
No cases were notified in 1955.
The total number of primary immunisations given at
the clinics and by General Practitioners was 1,719 and
the number of booster doses was 2,311. As the number of
live births for the year was 2,295, it can be calculated
that the proportion of children in the first year of life
who received primary vaccination was 75%. It will be
remembered that to obtain a satisfactory state of immunity
70% to 75% of children in the first year of life should
be immunised. Our percentage for the year therefore is
satisfactory.
Although this figure is within satisfactory limits
there should be no slacking off in immunisation because
it is the experience all over the country that as cases
of Diphtheria become fewer and fewer so in the minds of
parents there is a tendency to regard the need for immunisation
as less and less urgent and so a diminishing number
of children each year is presented at the clinic for this
purpose. It should not be forgotten that the dramatic fall