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Section F.— PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of Scarlet Fever in the district was about the
same as in 1937. The disease was mild in type, often with only a
faint transient rash and there were no deaths.

Typhoid Fever
Two cases were notified, one of typhoid, and one of paratyphoid;
the source of infection in the former was almost certainly
oysters, partaken of in a restaurant outside the district.
During the year a female patient who had suffered from
typhoid in 1936 was found to be employed as a cook at a restaurant
in a neighbouring district and to be a carrier of typhoid organisms.
Steps were at once taken to prevent her from undertaking any
work involving the handling of food or drink and by agreement
with a neighbouring Authority it was ultimately decided to compensate
the patient for loss of employment until such time as she
could find, or the Local Authorities concerned could offer her, a
suitable means of livelihood.
Dysentery
Eleven cases of bacillary dysentery of the Sonne type were
notified in the early part of the year.
About half of the cases were in children and there was a
history of symptoms of enteritis in other members of the household
in several instances.
The disease was characterised by a sudden onset, short course,
and the absence, so far as is known, of complications or serious
after effects.
Bacteriological confirmation of the diagnosis was obtained in
four only out of the eleven cases notified.
A letter was sent to all practitioners informing them of the
occurrence of cases in the district.
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