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INFECTIOUS D I 3 E A 3 E S.
( a) NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Diphtheria.
There were four cases of diphtheria notified during 1947,
the same number as for the previous year. All oases were
admitted to hospital. There was one death. The death rate
was .01 per 1,000 of the population as compared with 0.01
for England and Wales.
On the 5th February, 1947, I received a notification that
a student at a training college was suffering from diphtheria
and had been admitted to hospital. On the 9th February another
student took ill with diphtheria; by that time it had boon
ascertained that the first student was suffering from a mixed
infection of haemolytic streptococci and diphtheria. On the
10th February the college was visited, and Schick tests wore
done on about 300 of the staff and students. On the 12th
February, 45 positive reactors to the Schick test had been
found. As it was impossible to give an unqualified undertaking
that no untoward effect might arise as to the result of the
administration of serum, it was decided to give each of the
positive reactors 1 c.c. of T.A.F. immunising agent, followed
by other two injections at the correct intervals of time.
Reactions to this were negligible.
On the 1st March another student took ill with diphtheria.
It was decided to ascertain if there were any diphtheria carriers
among the staff or students. Two days later at my request, a
doctor and three technicians from the Central Public Health
Laboratory, visited the college and carried out the swabbing of
tho nose and throat of all the staff and students available.
From these tests it was ascertained that three students
were carrying in their throats the same virulent strain which
had caused the illness in the three patients admitted to
hospital. The three carriers were admitted to hospital, although
not themselves ill, and were treated until they were non-infectious
All throe patients made a good recovery and no further
cases occurred.
Free Supply of Anti-toxin.
During the year Medical Practitioners practising in the
Borough could at any tine obtain a supply of diphtheria antitoxin
from the fire stations.
Diphtheria Immunization.
At the end of the year it was estimated that the percentage
of child population immunized against diphtheria was as follows:-
Under 5 years 54.6%
5 to 15 years 7 6.9%
The following is a summary of the work carried out:-
Total number of new cases immunized 1677
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