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45
Scarlet Fever at Brookfield Hospital.
The outbreak of Scarlet Fever which began in the Autumn
of 1931, continued throughout 1932, and up to March, 1933. Five
cases occurred in 1933.
Dr. Griffith of the Ministry of Health Laboratory again continued
to examine the swabs which were taken in connection with
the outbreak. During the latter half of 1932 the types oi
haemolytic streptococci isolated from swabs had been Carter Type,
1; Franklin's Type, 63T, Type 1, and Heterogenous (one of each).
On January 4th, 1933, one of the nursing staff complained of
a Quinsy (due to a haemolytic streptococcus Type 1) and was put
off duty till the 17th. On 27th January a suspected case of Scarlet
Fever was removed to Hospital and both he and the nurse, who
was again swabbed, showed Type 1. The nurse had been instructed
to wear a face mask while on duty and subsequently consented to
tonsillectomy.
On the 28th another case occurred (Type 3) and a child who
had contracted Scarlet Fever in November, 1932, also complained
of sore throat due to Type 3 streptococci.
On the 4th February another case occurred and 11 swabs were
taken for examination from the nursing, massage and domestic
staff. The patient yielded Type 3, all the staff being negative
except one, a domestic, who yielded Type 63T. This typing agreed
with one found in a patient in December, 1932.
The two remaining cases occurred on March 6th and 8th and
both showed haemolytic streptococci of Scarlatinal Type 3.
DIPHTHERIA
A total of 334 cases of Diphtheria were notified during 1933 as
compared with 356 in 1932.