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In spite of the low figure for primary immunisation, the table showing the
immunised state of all children under 15 against diphtheria indicates that the
percentage of total school children carrying some immunity against diphtheria
has not fallen from last year. On the other hand, last year this figure of 73%
was considered to be below the safety margin for community protection, which
has been laid down as 75%
There was a very severe drop in the number of children receiving reinforcing
injections from 348 in 1956 to 114 in 1957, and much of the reason for this must
have been the demand for anti-poliomyelitis vaccination This question of
vaccination priorities is a serious one as diphtheria is still dangerous i e,
in Ireland in 1956 there were 12 deaths from diphtheria in Dublin and 211 cases
notified This in one city alone and very close to this country while in the
whole of England and Wales the total number of deaths frpm poliomyelitis was
114 in the same year. Out of a Dublin population of approximately 584,000, 12
died from diphtheria, i, e one in 48 000 while in England and Wales with a
population of 44 600; 000 114 died from poliomyelitis i e. one in approximately
400 000
Both diseases can cause lifelong disability and even in this country during
the year under consideration 1956 there were eight deaths from diphtheria a
figure which rose to 13 in 1957
Whooping Cough
65 cases of whooping cough occurred in 1957 No deaths occurred from this
disease,
Food Poisoning
Only four notifications of food poisoning were received during the year.
The organism identified in one of these cases was Salmonella typhi-murium but
no bacterial origin was ascertained in the other cases although specific foods
were blamed by the patients in some cases It was not possible however to
obtain specimens of such food for bacteriological examination.
There were three outbreaks details of which were ascertained other than
by notification One outbreak occurred in a factory canteen within the Borough,
and 22 persons were affected out of a total of 75 persons at risk The illness
was mild, and all patients except one had recovered by the day after onset
No bacterial origin however was ascertained in any case
Of the other two outbreaks one occurred amongst members of a coach party
who consumedameal within the Borough 34 persons in this instance were affected
out of a total of 36 at risk, and the organism identified in three cases was
Clostridium welchii
The remaining outbreak affected so far as could be ascertained 6 persons
employed in a factory outside the Borough who had, however, consumed a meal
within the Borough, Faeces specimens were obtained from all persons but no
bacterial origin was discovered
Specimens of suspect food were not available for investigation in any of
these outbreaks
Dysentery
Seven persons were notified as suffering from dysentery one case was subsequently
not confirmed In the other six specimens.taken after notification
were negative for dysentery organisms In addition specimens of faeces were
obtained from all contacts of these cases,
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