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Of the 12 cases notified, eight were over 15 years of age, six of these
being over 20 years of age. This change is no doubt resultant upon
the pressing of the Corporation's scheme for immunisation of children,
particularly infants, against diphtheria. Those adults who contracted
the disease were severely affected.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
The routine propaganda to encourage parents to have their children
immunised against diphtheria continued throughout the year. The
Government's Special Annual Publicity Campaign was again carried
out locally. Slides giving details of the facilities were shown in the
two picture houses and appropriate press advertisements appeared in
the local newspaper as part of this publicity. It is worth comment
that the number of children receiving complete courses of immunising
injections during 1945 was 609 as compared with 380 during the
previous year.
In the case of one child contracting diphtheria, injections for
immunisation had been given at the Borough clinic. The child had
not attended for a post-schick test.
PROTECTION AGAINST WHOOPING COUGH.
The Council's scheme for the free inoculation of children against
whooping cough continues in operation.
The number of children attending the Council's clinic for protection
against whooping cough during 1945 was more than double the number
attending during the previous year. This increase may in part be
accounted for by the fact that during this year the anti-gen used was
changed to alum-precipitated whooping cough vaccine which required
only two injections and which could, in fact, be given at the same time,
if necessary, as the diphtheria prophylactic used.
TYPHUS SCHEME.
As a result of the disbandment of the Civil Defence Services the
premises in Mullins Path which had been a cleansing section of the
first aid post, were no longer available for use as an emergency cleansing
station for disinfestation of typhus contacts under the Council scheme
for dealing with Typhus Fever. It was, therefore, necessary, for
the Council to take over these premises, together with clothing and
other equipment purchased from Civil Defence stock, for the purpose.
In connection with the scheme a 10-h.p. 10-cwt. "Fordson"
zinc-lined van has been purchased for the conveyance of infested
clothing, etc. When not in use for this it will serve as a general
utility van for the Public Health Department.