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52
Measles.
As was to be expected after a year of few notifications, there
was a large increase in the number of measles notified during 1957,
a total of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four cases
being brought to our notice, as against only thirty-three cases
during 1956. Twelve cases necessitated hospital treatment, and
there was one death.
This ailment, although so widespread, retained the milder
characteristics so noticeable of late, and it would seem that here
we are dealing with a condition of lessening importance and that
the higher standard of living has dealt a crippling blow to the
killing power of this illness.
Meningococcal Infections.
No cases occurred in the area during 1957.
Pneumonia.
Altogether seventeen cases of pneumonia were notified during
the year, as against forty-three cases in 1956. Three cases were
admitted to hospital, and fifty-two deaths were recorded. This
latter figure includes people who are normally resident in the
Urban District, but who died outside the area.
It was expected that a rise in the incidence of pneumonia
would have taken place in 1957 as influenza was epidemic on a
large scale, but it is more than probable that the explanation is that
influenza affected predominantly the younger age groups and
tended to miss those age groups which are more likely to be
attacked by pneumonia.
Scarlet Fever.
Thirty cases were notified during the year, seven of which were
removed to hospital, and the remainder home nursed. This is a
decrease on the figure of forty cases notified during 1956.
There were no "return cases," and no deaths occurred from
this disease in the area during 1957.
Here again one is able to report that most sufferers from this
complaint were not seriously affected, and there are very few
instances of the complications which used to make this condition
so dreaded.
Smallpox and Vaccination.
Once again no cases of smallpox occurred in this area, but two
suspected contacts of cases came under supervision of the department.