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54
No effort is spared to prevent the spread of the disease and there is
close liaison with general medical practitioners who are kept fully
informed of developments inoluding up-to-date information as to drug
sensitivity of organisms.
An essential and important factor undertaken by the public health
inspectors is the opportunity to stress the necessity for personal
hygiene, especially to those concerned with food handling and the care
of young children. Every effort is also made to ensure that personal
hygiene is intensified and adhered to during outbreaks. Furthermore,
everything possible is done to prevent contact of individuals, in
particular children, with persons outside the infected home until the
whole family is free from infection.
Measures such as these tend to decrease the spread of the
disease and also act as an education in personal hygiene.
Tuberculosis.
In accordance with the national trend the number of new cases of
tuberculosis notified continues to be satisfactorily low. In 1960 in
Kingston 14 cases were reported, 13 of which referred to the lungs.
The corresponding total figure for 1959 was 19 of which 18 referred to
lungs.
Whilst we can claim that fear and pessimism concerning tuberculosis
has been largely removed from people's minds; that statistics show a declining
death rate and a satisfactory reduction in the number of new
cases there are, however, many oases on the register and receiving treatment
and attention at the Chest Clinic.
It is, therefore, necessary, to remember that breakdown and
infectivity are continually possible in these cases. It is to be hoped
that in due course the continued effects of improved living conditions
of the populace, continued advances in therapeutic treatment, facility
for early detection of tuberculosis by public mass x-ray sessions and
B.C.G. vaccination of school children will eventually bring this disease
to the point of eradication.
A total of 7,921 persons were x-rayed during a visit of the
South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board X-Ray Unit in October
and November (4,079 males, 3,842 females). The figure is an increase of
2,332 as compared with 1959. This can to some extent be accounted for
by an increase in examinees from factory staffs. A total of 14 cases
(6 male and 8 female) of active pulmonary tuberculosis was discovered
and referred for treatment or close clinical supervision. As the Mass
X-Ray service is open to all, the figures given above include persons
living outside the Kingston District, and do not necessarily relate
only to Kingston residents.
Table of notified oases and deaths for 1951 - 1960 overleaf.