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(3) First Maintenance Treatment (1949-1950) (Completed
September 1949).
Pre-baiting with damped sausage rusks was carried out
on two consecutive days and the same bait base with 2\°7o
Zinc Phosphide added was laid on the third day, with the
following results:—
Borough divided into 5 sections Number of manholes pre-baited Unpoisoned pre-baits laid Number of manholes poison baited
Complete bait takes Partial bait takes Baits not taken
A.B.C.D.E. 191 52 5 134 102
The table shows an increase in the number of pre-baits
taken as compared with the results of previous maintenance
treatments, but compares favourably with the 10% test
baiting results.
The increase in the sewer rat population is probably due
to the very dry summer weather of 1949.
The second maintenance treatment will be commenced in
February, 1950.
INCIDENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Eight hundred and nineteen cases of infectious disease
were notified, a decline of four hundred and fifty-five cases.
Points of special interest were the occurrence of a case of
Smallpox, a higher number of sporadic cases of Poliomyelitis,
an increased prevalence of Scarlet Fever and of Whooping
Cough, a fall in the number of cases of Measles, and the
absence of notified cases of Diphtheria and of Dysentery.
Scarlet Fever. One hundred and sixty-seven cases of
Scarlet Fever were notified, an increase of fourteen cases.
The disease was generally mild. There was no death. The
case rate was 2.06 per 1,000 of population, compared with
1.63 per 1,000 of population for England and Wales. The
higher prevalence is related to outbreaks in schools, and the
persistence of infection in crowded classrooms.
Diphtheria. No case was notified during 1949. It is
satisfactory to record, that during the past three years no
child within the age groups subject to immunisation has
suffered from Diphtheria. The case rate for England and
Wales was 0.04 per 1,000 of population.
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