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GRAPH A. Incidence and deaths from diphtheria.
Although the death rate was comparatively small
in relation to the large number of cases, diphtheria is a crippling
disease and leaves a trail of damage to heart etc., in its wake.
The population to-day is approximately 4 times that
of 1890 and but for immunisation the cases of diphtheria might
also be 4 times greater in to-day's population, giving a 5 year
figure of four to five hundred cases.
The dramatic fall which started in 1942 was the
result of a tremendous immunisation campaign which grew in momentum
until by 1945 practically every child up to school leaving age had
been immunised. It is a matter of great satisfaction that in
this district even to-day there is no falling off in the immunisation
rate for diphtheria.
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