View report page

Prom the table set out above, the following facts emerge:-
1. Scarlet Fever notifications fell from 38 in 1960 to 15 in
1961. Once again, as I have so often said before, the type of
scarlet fever met with was extremelv mild, so mild that admission
to hospital was only necessary when no one remained at home to
look after the affected child.
2. For the fourteenth year in succession no case of diphtheria
occurred in the Borough. The last death took place approximately
22 years ago. The fact that cases of diphtheria are still occurring
in various parts of the country, however, once again means
that we dare not relax our precautions. This particularly
applies to immunisation, either against diphtheria alone or
against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus combined, The fact
that 91.0 percent. of infants under the age of two years are
protected against diphtheria, either alone or by the use of the
triple antigen is extremely pleasing. Indeed so far as I am
aware, this immunisation rate is perhaps the highest in these
islands.
3. Measles notifications rose from 21 in 1960 to 763 in 1961.
This was to be anticipated, as 1961 was a "measles year". As in
the case of scarlet fever, severity was extremely low.
24