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41
Poliomyelitis.
Further progress was made toward the protection of the
child population. Supplies of vaccine became plentiful and
2 injections have been offered to every Kingston child up to
the age of 15 years. A third reinforcing injection was given
some 7 months after the second injection, and expectant
mothers who registered for vaccination also received the injection.
No cases of poliomyelitis were notified in Kingston
during 1958.
Enteric Fever (Typhoid or Paratyphoid).
There were no cases of typhoid or paratyphoid B notified
in Kingston during 1958 and this is the eleventh successive
year without notification of enteric fever. Infection that
does occur is mostly imported from abroad through contaminated
foodstuffs, but polluted water courses and streams can carry
the organism and indiscriminate bathing and drinking of contaminated
impure water can be dangerous.
Dysentery (Sonne).
The year was characterised by 2 sharp outbreaks of mild
dysentery each centred on a particular school, into each of
which the organism, having been introduced, spread rapidly.
Action was taken which was successful in preventing the
spread of infection to other schools. This laborious process
consists of visiting cases, and suspected cases, distribution
and collection of specimen containers, and maintaining
accurate records of the progress of each patient. A considerable
amount of correspondence with parents, schools, and
doctors is involved.
It is considered that a notable success in containing
the outbreaks was achieved by instituting at all schools a
rigorous hand washing regimen applicable after the use of the
W.C., and before eating. The infant schools were also provided
with supplies of disinfectant and disposable paper
towels, the disinfectant being used as a hand dip after
washing. It is thought that such a hand dip is an indispensable
precaution when dysentery is prevalent among children
who are too young to be trusted always to wash their hands
thoroughly after using the lavatory. The novelty, and the
attractive blue colour of the solution seemed to make the idea
popular with the children.
The first of the 2 outbreaks occurred in February and
resulted in 113 cases. The second, smaller, outbreak occurred
in July with 50 cases.
Altogether during 1958, 167 cases of sonne dysentery
were officially notified. Those not associated with the
above incidents being sporadic individual cases the appearance
of which is becoming a normal occurrence each year.
The prevalence of this infection seems to have increased
throughout the country during the last few years. The illness
is mild but it has a possible serious effect on young
babies and debilitated persons.