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5.—PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
(i) Notifiable Diseases.
In order to give a more accurate picture of the number of
cases of infectious diseases in the district, those notifications, where
the diagnosis is altered after observation are not recorded in the
following tables, unless the amended diagnosis proves the condition
to be one of another type of infection which is notifiable,
when the case is then recorded under its appropriate nomenclature.
(a) Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.
This condition is popularly called "Infantile Paralysis," but,
as I have already pointed out to the Council, the term is a misleading
one, because the illness can affect adults, as well as children,
and all cases do not advance to the stage of paralysis. This diagnosis
of these latter cases rests on preliminary symptoms, and 011
the examination of the cerebro-spinal fluid.
In common with the rest of the Country, there was an increased
prevalence of this'disease from the early part of July, until the beginning
of October, although it did not seriously affect this area.
In all 8 cases were notified, and, unfortunately, 2 died. Of the
remainder, 5 of the patients had the condition in such a mild form
that the disease did not progress to the paralytic stage. In addition
to the above, 13 patients were removed to the Isolation Hospital
as suspect cases, but they were proved not to be suffering from
the disease.
In order to allay anxiety on the part of the public, an early
opportunity was taken to issue a statement to the local press, setting
out briefly the nature of the infection, the means of transference
of the organism, the symptoms and signs, and the simple precautionary
measures to be adopted to prevent spread. Weekly
reports as to the number of the cases were also issued.
The General Practitioners in the district were circularised as
to the present day knowledge of the disease, and arrangements were
made by the local branch of the British Medical Association for
them to see the Ministry of Health film upon the subject.
Advice was also given to the Borough Surveyor to avoid overcrowding
at the Public Baths, by limiting the sale of tickets, but it
soon became evident that the public was already taking action in
this respect, and were not attending the Baths in large numbers.
Furthermore, advice was given regarding the cleaning of towels,
and the keeping of the floors, etc., clean. This, however, is a
normal procedure at the Baths. With regard to the Chlorine content,
it was advised that there should be a residual amount of 0.5