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47
SECTION II. B.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES—NON-NOTIFIABLE.
We can partly judge from the prevalence of these diseases by the death
returns. The deaths from whooping cough have been three more; the deaths
from diarrhoea have been six less than last year; from influenza 36 less than
last year, when they numbered 58.
A prompter and better knowledge of the prevalence of these diseases is
gained from the notifications received from the head teachers, when they are
sent in fully and regularly to the Medical Officer of Health, as they should be,
in accordance with Section 7 of "Instructions to Teachers," issued by the
Education Committee. Some head teachers rely too much on their attendance
officers, and so delay arises in my becoming aware of the suspected cases.
diarrhoea.
Five deaths occurred from diarrhœa and epidemic enteritis, as compared
with 11, 17 and 22 for 1919-18-17. The death-rate from the disease is 0.06 per
1,000 of the population, as compared with 0.15 last year. Of these deaths,
three occurred in children under one year of age, giving an infantile mortality
rate for the year from this cause of just over 1.5 per thousand nett births; the
numbers in 1919-18-17 were 6, 12 and 9. Three deaths were in children under
two years; these contribute to the zymotic death-rate.
In July, 100 posters were exhibited on the hoardings, drawing the attention
of the public to the fly pest.
The local weather during 1920.—The year cannot be in any
respect regarded as a good one. The sunshine recorded was the lowest since
1913, and also the rainfall. July and September were the wettest months;
this accounts for our low death-rate from diarrhœal diseases.
WHOOPING COUGH.
There were seven deaths from this cause, as compared with 4, 14 and 13 in
1919-18-17. This is equal to a death-rate from the disease of 0.09 per 1,000
living, compared with 0.05 last year. All the deaths occurred amongst children
under five years of age—one in the first age-period, one in the second and five
in the third. Two in February and August and one in March, July and
December.