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continue only so long as the level of immunity is kept as
high as possible. Each year, as the number of people with
experience of, or even with knowledge of diphtheria
declines, it bec omes more and more difficult to persuade
parents of the really urgent need to have their children
immunised. Parents are no longer afraid of something they
have not experienced. Whooping cough, however, is still
with us and in recent years a vaccine has been developed
which offers good protection against the worst features
of this disease. It is easy to combine diphtheria and
whooping cough immunisation in one series of injections,
and all parents are strongly advised to take advantage of
the protection offered.
There was no case of smallpox in the area; this can
be regarded as fortunate in view of the proximity of
major airports and the continued increase in international
travel at ever increasing speeds. The only certain means
of protection against this disease is effecient vaccination,
and the most satisfactory time to have this done is
in infancy. Once it is done, then re-vaccination, whether
for business, services or travel purposes becomes a
simple and safe procedure. The general level of vaccination
is not high enough for safety and here again, parents are
advised to take advantage of the facilities offered and
have their infants protected.
The measles incidence declined-that was to be
expected as 1954 was a 'trough' year in the usual
bi-annual epidemic wave of this disease. The whooping
cough incidence also declined and it is gratifying to
note that the great majority of the cases were mild
and, in fact, it was not necessary to have any whooping
cough cases admitted to hospital.
The routine work of the Department was carried on
satisfactorily during the year. As usual, special attention
was paid to food hygiene matters and efforts were constantly
made to educate food handlers in hygiene methods.
In the last resort, however, satisfactory food hygiene is
in the hands of the general public. If purchases are only
made where hygienic conditions are obviously good, then
the general level of hygiene among food traders will soon
be raised; even now it is beginning to be realised that
good food hygiene is also good business.