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The most prevalent infectious disease during the year was again measles, which
made up nearly 67% of notifications received. In recent years the biennial periodicity
of prevalence of this disease has become blurred by the winter epidemic carrying
over from one year to the next.
Compared with last year the number of cases of dysentery has risen.
Once again it is pleasing to report the absence of the former common infections
such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis.
Sixty-one cases of respiratory tuberculosis and 11 cases of tuberculosis of
other organs, including genito-urinary tract, lymph glands and meninges, were
notified. There were seven deaths from the disease. The six deaths from respiratory
tuberculosis and the one death from tuberculosis of other organs all occurred in
persons over the age of 35 years, five being persons over 65 years of age.
Of all notified cases of infectious disease 2,471 were school children; and head
teachers informed us of 678 children absent from school due to infectious or suspected
infectious disease. A number of the cases notified by head teachers were
pupils suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.
Measles
One thousand, nine hundred and fifty-five cases of measles were notified and
the attack rate was 7.35 per 1,000 of the population. There were no deaths.
Scarlet Fever
One hundred and eighteen cases of scarlet fever were notified, and the attack
attack rate was 0.44 per 1,000 of the population. There were no deaths.
Erysipelas
Fourteen cases of erysipelas were notified, and the attack rate was 0.05 per
1,000 of the population. There were no deaths.
Whooping Cough
Two hundred and eighty-five cases of whooping cough were notified, and the
attack rate was 1.07 per 1,000 of the population. There were no deaths.
Dysentery
Two hundred and ninety-nine cases of Sonne dysentery were notified, and the
attack rate was 1.12 per 1,000 of the population. There were no deaths.
Food Poisoning
Thirty-four cases of food poisoning were notified, and the attack rate was 0.13
per 1,000 of the population.
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