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No schools had more than an occasional case in the spring term.
In the summer term three school departments had about 20 cases each.
Although the infection was more prevalent in the winter term only two
departments had as many as 30 cases, a further five having about 20.
As was the case in the previous year, about half the schools escaped
entirely.
3 children died from whooping cough.
The number of patients suffering from whooping cough who were
removed to hospital for treatment was 11, and the number of visits paid
by the health visitors 98.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIONS.
Chickenpox.
Chickenpox was the most prevalent of the infections in the schools,
intimation being received from the head teachers of the absence of 1,234
children from the public elementary schools. It was most prevalent in
the spring term when 10 schools were affected to some degree, though
only six to any great extent. Of these one had 152 cases, the others
145, 125, 101, 63 and 53. Of these, two were slightly affected in the
summer term, while two other schools had the one 102 and the other 41
cases. In the winter term those previously affected largely escaped
though two other schools were attacked, one having 143 and the other
93 cases.
Mumps.
Mumps was much less prevalent than in the previous year, only 413
intimations being received. One school was heavily (121 cases) and
another two lightly (31 and 22 cases) attacked in the spring term, sporadic
cases occurring in a few other departments. One department which had
21 cases in this term was the only one seriously affected in the summer,
having a further 61 cases. The incidence was even lighter in the winter
term, only one school having as many as 25 cases.
German Measles.
The district was practically free from this infection in 1942, a very
different state from that of the earlier months of 1943.
Influenza.
Influenza was prevalent in the earlier months of the year, nine out
of the total number of deaths from this complaint occurring in February
and March. The disease returned in the last six weeks of the year, this
district being affected by the epidemic of the respiratory type from which
the country as a whole suffered. The deaths recorded in the succeeding
weeks, after one in each of the three consecutive weeks in the latter part
of November, were 6, 8, 11, 7, and 3. The fatalities occurred mostly
amongst the elderly, especially females, 30 out of the 50 deaths being
amongst those over 65 years of age.