View report page

9
immunisation falls too low the disease could regain its
former virulence and killing power
The following interesting information has been revealed
following Ministry of Health Surveys
In 1954 there were 166 confirmed cases of Diphtheria,
One hundred of the 160 cases about which information was
available were under 16 years Of these 60 had never
been immunised and there were 6 deaths among them Forty
had been immunised and there was no death
DYSENTERY
179 cases were notified an increase of 54 compared
with the year before
The majority of cases were of a mild character wh^ch
rapidly cleared up
S Sonnei usually causes a very mild form of the dis
ease, the symptoms being often of so mild a character
that they are completely ignored This is. however a
highly dangerous state of affairs as fatalities can occur
in the young, the aged and the debilitated and good per
sonal and environmental hygiene should be continually
emphasised, in particular hand washing immediately after
a visit to the toilet
ENTERIC FEVER
No cases occurred during the year
ENTERIC FEVER CARRIER
As mentioned in previous reports the same Paratyphoid
B carrier was kept under surveillance and routine three
monthly faeces examinations carried out These showed
that die continued to be a carrier She is acutely aware
of her handicap and is scrupulous in taking all possible
precautions
ERYSIPELAS
The same number of cases was notified as in 1955 12
FOOD POISONING
There were 26 notifications received a decrease of
10 over the previous year. In 16 of the 26 cases laboratory
diagnosis was confirmed 14 were Salmonella Typhimurium
and 2 Salmonella Enteritidis.