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INCIDENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Eight hundred and seventeen cases of Infectious diseases
were notified during the year 1952, a decrease of one thousand
two hundred and seventy one cases. There was a lower Incidence
of Measles, Whooping Cough and of Dysentery.
Scarlet Fever. One hundred and twenty four cases were
notified, an Increase of fourteen cases. The case rate was 1-56
per thousand of population compared with 1-53 per thousand of
population for England and Wales. The disease was generally mild.
There was no death.
Diphtheria, No case was notified In 1952 compared with one
case In 1951. Diphtheria Is still a serious danger to the
unlmmunlsed child.
Diphtheria Antitoxin The possibility of Diphtheria must
always be considered In the differential diagnosis of infections
of the throat. Early diagnosis and early treatment with antitoxin
are essential for the prevention of mortality. Swabs for
diagnosis should be taken before antibiotics are administered.
Antibiotics may kill the diphtheria bacillus and so obscure
diagnosis, but they will not neutralise toxin. Antitoxin should
be given on suspicion of the disease. Otherwise the patient
should be admitted to hospital for observation and treatment.
Diphtheria Immunisation, In 1944 there were In England and
Wales twenty three thousand, one hundred and ninety nine cases of
Diphtheria and nine hundred and thirty four deaths. In 1952
there were three hundred .and seventy five cases and thirty two
deaths. It can be assumed that Immunisation Is saving approximately
nine hundred lives, mostly of children, each year.
Therefore the campaign must be pressed forward and reorganised
so as to reduce and eliminate the persisting residual mortality.
Babies can be Immunised safely at the age of 9 months and
Immunisation can and should be completed before the first birthday.
At present the preponderance of Immunisation of babies Is
carried out between the ages of one and two years. This delay
leaves a large number of babies unnecessarily at risk for several
months, a first objective Is to secure the Immunisation of
75 per cent of all babies before the first birthday.
A survey at the end of 1952 of the state of Immunisation of
nine hundred and fifty babies born In 1951 showed that five
hundred and eighty one, representing 61 per cent, had been
Immunised, but of these only 31 per cent had been Immunised
before the first birthday. It Is Important that mothers should
arrange for the Immunisation of their babies at nine months of
age. All Infants should be reinforced before entry to nursery
school or day school. All school children should be reinforced
between the ages of eight and nine years.
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