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The third was an infant of fifteen months, who died from an
acute fulminating attack within twelve hours of onset. There
was no evidence of interconnection.'
Cerebro Spinal Fever is due to the Meningococcus and is a
severe infection with danger of mortality. There are seasonal
rises in the incidence of cases and of carriers. Early treatment
with Sulphonamlde is essential.
Poliorayelitis. Two cases were notified in 1954, compared
with fifteen cases in 1953. one was a boy aged seven years with
paralysis of the left arm. The other was a girl aged eighteen
years with paralysis of the muscles of the back. Both recovered.
A considerable advance has been made in our knowledge of
the virus of Poliomyelitis. Medical research gives a prospect
of an efficient vaccine which will produce Immunity and prevent
paralysis. Until a safe vaccine is available we must adopt
preventive measures to avoid infection and protective measures
to reduce the risk of paralysis. It is known that the infection
is inhaled and ingested and that multiplication of the virus
occurs in the pharynx and in the bowel. It has been estimated
from investigations that forty per cent of direct contacts with
cases carry infection in the bowel. Some abortive cases with
very mild Illness are not recognised as Poliomyelitis and contacts
may be unaware of their infection. Therefore very strict
cleanliness is necessary to reduce the transference of faecal
contamination.
Contacts of known or suspected cases should avoid over
exertion and secure adequate sleep. Tiredness, either physical
or emotional, predisposes to illness and to paralysis. Minor
illness occurring in a person who has had contact with Poliomyelitis
requires rest in bed until recovery.
Pneumonia. Of twenty deaths from Pneumonia three were
notified before death. The total number of notified cases was
thirty nine compared with eighty eight in 1953.
infestations. Eleven cases of Scabies and eight cases of
infestation by lice were treated. The number of attendances at
the clinic for treatment was fifty six. This compares with five
cases of Scabies and ten cases with Lice and fifty five attendances
for treatment in 1953.
Non-Notifiable Diseases. School teachers reported two
hundred and twenty three cases of Chicken Pox, two hundred and
seventy six cases of Mumps and two cases of German Measles.
School notifications are a useful indication of the prevalence
of non-notiflable diseases and form a basis for consultation
with the school medical officer.
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