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32
Scarlet Fever (Continued)
Where home conditions are suitable for isolation most
cases can now be nursed at home. This is due to the
lessened severity of the disease generally and the use of
modern drugs in treatment, and although precautions still
have to be taken in view of the possibility of complications
it is possible to avoid taking up some hospital beds which
are left free for more urgent cases.
Diphtheria,
No cases of diphtheria were notified, for the fifth
successive year.
Intensive work was continued to immunise the school
and pre-school population against diphtheria, and the
table on following page shows the stage reached by the end
of 1952, It is intended to continue with a vigorous
inmunlsation campaign to prevent any possible diminishing
of public interest in this service, occasioned by five
years freedom from the disease, and the complacency
which may result. Immunisation is just as necessary in
the absence of diphtheria as when it occurs.
Poliomyelitis,
Three cases were notified during 1952, all of them
having some symptoms of muscle weakness. Two of the
persons concerned were children (ages l½ and 11 years)
and fortunately the illness was slight in each case.
The third case was more severe and occurred in an adult
female (aged 25 years) who developed sane paralysis of
the legs and arms.
There was no connection between any of these cases
and they all occurred in families having no known contact
with each other.
Acute Infective Encephalitis.
No cases were recorded during 1952,
Enteric Fever (Typhoid or Paratyphoid).
No cases of typhoid or paratyphoid B were notified
during 1952, This is the fifth successive year in which
no oases of typhoid or paratyphoid fever were notified.
Measles.
There were 280 cases of measles notified during 1952
(compared with 443 in 1951), of whom one only was removed
to hospital, and generally speaking the illness was of a
mild type with little by way of complications.
The 5-10 year age groups contained the largest
number of notifications (143) the majority of the remainder
being spread over the 1-5 year age period (129), and only
8 at other ages.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
No cases were notified during 1952, This is the fifth
successive year in which we have had no cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum notified.