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57
Scarlet Fever.
Twelve cases were notified during 1963, eleven of which were of
school age. No serious cases or deaths were reported and all were
treated at home.
As a streptococcal infection scarlet fever is always viewed as
potentially dangerous. Modern drugs however prove to be a good weapon,
and the illness usually takes a mild form.
Poliomyelitis.
No cases of poliomyelitis have been notified in Kingston since
1957. Vaccination against poliomyelitis by the oral method was continued
throughout the year. The bulk of the work in prevention of
poliomyelitis by active immunisation of the population up to 40 years
of age has now been completed. The main groups which were immunised
during 1963 were infants commencing at the age of six months, and
school children and adults who had failed to attend for immunisation
in previous years.
At all ages up to 21 years, the percentage immunised is about 90%
which can be considered a satisfactory figure.
There still remains a number of young adults who have not so far
been protected against poliomyelitis but many of these are likely to
be immunised when they become parents and take their children for
immunisation either to the family doctor or to a clinic.
Oral vaccine by mouth, not only provides protection but also prevents
protected persons from harbouring poliomyelitis virus and
spreading the disease to unprotected persons. This type of vaccine is
of great value during em epidemic because it works quickly.
The vaccine is available for the immunisation of everyone between
six months and 40 years, and in addition for those who may be in contact
with poliomyelitis as a result of their work.
Dysentery (Sonne).
A total of 5 cases of dysentery were notified during 1963 compared
with 8 during 1962, These notifications were in respect of 3 individual
cases and 1 family in which 2 young children were concerned. No outbreaks
occurred during the year.
Although the type of cases which occur are normally sporadic
individual dysentery cases there is always an awareness that such infection
can be widely spread by contagion from person to person, and
that the illness can have a serious effect on babies and debilitated
persons.