View report page

PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
These diseases were made compulsorily notifiable in October, 1939. 1,207
cases of Measles and 204 cases of Whooping Cough were notified during the
year. There were no deaths from these diseases.
Diphtheria.
One case was notified during the year. The patient was a 12-year-old
boy who had not been previously immunised. No cases were notified in 1952.
Scarlet Fever.
Continued to occur throughout the year in a mild form. There were
220 cases compared with 318 in 1952; there were no deaths.
" Return" cases numbered two, allowing for an interval of 28 days
between a patient returning home from the Isolation Hospital and the onset
of the disease in another inmate of the house.
Smallpox.
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year.
Enteric Fever.
Five cases of Paratyphoid " B " and two cases of Typhoid Fever were
notified during the year.
In one case of Paratyphoid " B " the onset commenced whilst the patient
was on holiday in the Channel Islands. Investigations of the remaining cases
failed to reveal the source of infection.
The two cases of Typhoid Fever occurred in one family (mother and
son). The source of infection was suspected to be shellfish eaten whilst
the patients were on holiday on the East Coast.
The mother was eventually discharged from hospital as a " persistent
carrier." She has been advised as to the necessary precautions to be taken
to avoid the spread of infection, and is being kept under close observation.
Faeces specimens are submitted at regular intervals for examination.
Dysentery.
During the year 426 cases of Dysentery were notified—331 Sonne, 56
Giardia, 29 Salmonella Typhi-murium, 2 Salmonella Enteritidis and 8 unspecified.
This figure shows a considerable increase compared with 1952,
when 176 cases of dysentery were notified.
The disease persisted throughout the year in a mild form, but of a total
of 426 cases, 331 occurred during the first five months of 1953.
The control measures, detailed in my Report for 1950. were maintained,
and again I wish to record my appreciation of the co-operation and assistance
31