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39
Careful observation has been made of the number of secondary
cases of Scarlet Fever occurring in any house after the removal to
hospital of the first case, and it was found that there has been no
increase in the number of secondary cases since the discontinuance
of routine fumigation.
During the year, following the removal of 150 primary cases
to hospital, 8 secondary cases were notified but in 7 of these the
onset occurred within 5 days of the removal of the first case and
therefore they may be presumed to have been incubating the disease
at the time of removal of the primary case.
In only one instance did a secondary case develop after a period
of 7 days. The period was 15 days after removal of the first case
and as it was known that there had been contact in the interval
with a case in another house, it is probable that the infection was
thus contracted.
There were 3 secondary Diphtheria cases in one family which
occurred 2, 6 and 10 days respectively after the removal to hospital
of the first case notified. There was, however, reason to suspect
that one or more of these cases was infected by a carrier.
No other secondary Diphtheria cases occurred during the year.
The cases of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria notified in each
ward during each month of the year are shown in the following
table:—