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15
association is in my opinion to be congratulated on the very
efficient manner in which this most valuable assistance to the
work of the Public Health department is being rendered.
Prevalence of, and control over, Infectious Diseases.
With the exception of Mumps and Measles over 5 years of
age all cases of infectious Disease are notifiable in the area, and
particulars of those cases notified are given in Table 1.
With regard to Diphtheria every facility for prompt diagnosis
and treatment is placed at the disposal of local doctors,
swabs for examinations of throat, etc., and a supply of antitoxin
are kept in readiness at the Council Offices. In addition the
Council has now given facilities for the supply of immunising
serum. This is available in necessitous cases on the application
of local doctors.
It is to be regretted that more advantage is not being taken
of the facilities now provided for preventive immunisation.
In the case of Measles there is more difficulty in obtaining
the convalescent and adult serum, but in time it is to be hoped
that the extended use of preventive immunisation will reduce
the chances of a fatal termination in both these diseases to
the vanishing point.
Similar facilities for bacteriological diagnosis are available
in cases of Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and full
advantage is taken of them. During the year, reports on the
following swabs and sputa sent for bacteriological examination
were received:—
Swabs taken from suspicious cases of Diphtheria,
positive 12, negative 131.
Sputa taken from suspicious cases of tuberculosis,
positive 3, negative 15.
In all infectious cases where patients are removed to isolation
or special hospitals, the patient's home is visited and
disinfection thoroughly carried out.