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There were three deaths in the hospital of aged persons who contracted dysentery during
the outbreak.
Of the other 15 cases notified as Dysentery, 7 were not confirmed as such. The remaining
eight were confirmed bacteriologically as Sonne Dysentery—four in one family in a
Corporation Rest Centre for the Homeless, two in another household, and two isolated
cases. It is pleasing to be able to report no spread from these families, especially in a Rest
Centre where many facilities are communal.
Smallpox (Variola)
No cases of smallpox occurred in the Borough during the year, and no contacts of
smallpox were notified from the Port or Airport Authorities.
Vaccination
The figures for infant vaccination show a slight fall in 1956. The percentage of children
receiving vaccination during their first year of life dropped from 46 9 in 1955 to 45 9 in 1956.
The re-vaccination figure has also fallen, but that is not of great importance to the health of
the community, as the majority of re-vaccinations are carried out because families are
leaving the country to emigrate to places where a vaccination certificate is a compulsory
reauirement before entrv.

Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina)
The number of notifications received during the year was 21 as compared with 40 for
the previous year, and 101 in 1954. Scarlet fever appears now to have become a comparatively
rare disease, and the cases tended to be mild in nature, as is instanced by the fact
that only 2 cases were admitted to hospital for isolation and treatment, while 19 were nursed
at home. There was one secondary case, i.e. a second case occurring within three weeks
following the notification of a previous case in one household.
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria were notified to the Department.