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50
Whooping Cough.
Whooping cough was less prevalent in 1938 than in the
previous year, notifications having been received of only 302 cases
as compared with 427 in 1937. The incidence was more or less
uniform throughout the year, rather more cases occurring in March
that at any other time. 19 departments were affected in all but
none to any heavy degree, one having 30 cases over three months
in the spring term, another 40 cases over five months. Apart
from this latter school, in no instance did any department suffer
to any appreciable extent more than one term.
154 homes were visited by the health visitors and seven patients
were removed to isolation hospitals for treatment.
Chickenpox.
Chickenpox was again very prevalent, 964 intimations being
received, most of them occurring in the first six months of the
year, the number of cases in each of the months January to June
being 83, 127, 216, 67, 187 and 175. One school suffered for the
whole period, the total number of cases over six months being
258. No other school suffered to this degree, the other heavy
incidences being 91 cases over two months, 63 over three months,
56 over two months, 58 over two months, and 61 over three months.
Apart from the one school mentioned where the infection attacked
the school over a period of six months, the only other instance
of a school being affected more than the one term was where one
department had 31 cases in February and March and a further
58 cases in the summer term.
Mumps.
The district was very free from mumps during 1938, only 66
cases being intimated, of which 22 occurred in one department,
most of them in the same term.
Influenza.
There was no heavy incidence of influenza during the year
under review and only eight deaths were ascribed to this disease.