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SECTION F. — PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL
OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
The table in Section F sets out the number of cases of infectious
diseases notified during 1964. It will be seen that the incidence of
such cases was very moderate, and that there is little that calls for
comment.
Measles.
1963 was a 'measles' year (473 cases) and 62 cases in 1964 is more
than would have been expected. Trials of a new measles vaccine were
held in various parts of the country in the Autumn, and it is to be
hoped that this will prove to be an effective preventive measure.
Food Poisoning.
Three cases only were notified. One was caused by Salmonella
typhimurium, a second by Salmonella newport, and in the third case
the causal organism was not identified. The cases were quite unconnected
and there was no spread of the disease.
Two un-notified cases were at first reported by the Public Health
Laboratory as being infected with Salmonella paratyphi B. They were
two pre-school children who played together daily while the mother
of one worked in a food shop.
Appropriate action was taken, including the exclusion of the mother
from her occupation as a food handler.
Two weeks later the laboratory reported that the organism was not
salmonella paratyphi B. but was Salmonella abony, an organism often
associated with tortoises.
It was then found that the children played frequently with a tortoise,
which, on being sent to the laboratory, was found to be infected
with the same organism.
In order to prevent any further spread of this infection, the tortoise
was found a new home where there were no children!
Encephalitis.
A child aged 18 months was vaccinated against smallpox and five
days later became extremely ill with post-vaccinal encephalitis.
Fortunately recovery occurred after a few days and, when examined
six weeks later, he appeared to have made a complete recovery.
This is a most unpleasant complication of vaccination, which fortunately
occurs very rarely.
Prevention of Typhoid Fever.
The serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Aberdeen put an extra
burden on the staff of the Health Department.
The Public Health Inspectors were very active in calling in suspect
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