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59
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIONS.
Measles.
Although 1937 was not a year in which measles was expected
to be epidemic, two public elementary schools were quite heavily
affected (103 and 97 cases) in the summer term, and two others
more lightly affected. From the middle of the Christmas term
onwards the 1937 /8 epidemic had started, infants' departments of
three schools being quite heavily attacked (127, 114 and 97 cases),
two other departments less severely, and a few cases occurring in a
number of other schools. The total number of children about
whom intimation that they were suffering from measles was received
from the head teachers during the year was 684 compared with
a figure of 1,641 in 1936, an epidemic year. 669 visits were paid
by health visitors to homes where there were cases of measles, and
1,626 visits to homes where there were other infectious patients.
19 patients were removed to isolation hospitals for treatment.
Whooping Cough.
Whooping cough was more prevalent than in the previous
year, intimation being received of 427 school children suffering as
compared with a figure of 223 in 1936. The highest incidence
occurred in the summer term, very few schools being affected, and
those only lightly, in the Christmas term. Though 21 departments
were affected to some extent the brunt was borne by four
schools of which each had between 40 and 80 cases during the year.
12 patients were removed to isolation hospitals for treatment.
Chicken-pox.
Chicken-pox was more prevalent this year than last, 919
intimations of school children affected being received as compared
with 541 in the previous year. Only one school was appreciably
affected in the spring, having 77 cases, this school being then free
for the rest of the year. Two schools were heavily affected in the
summer term (200 and 92 cases) and four others more lightly
affected. Another two were severely attacked in the Christmas
term (132 and 81 cases) and a further three less severely. In only
one school were there any appreciable numbers of cases in more
than one term.
Mumps.
Mumps also was more prevalent this year than last, with 578
school cases as compared with 248. This illness was more common
in the summer term than the rest of the year, only four schools
having an appreciable number of cases in the spring term and only
two in the Christmas term, these latter having also been affected
in the summer term. Those schools attacked in the spring term
remained free for the rest of the year.