View report page

10
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
Two cases of cerebrospinal fever were reported. One was
a very acute case in an infant who died shortly after admission
to hospital. The other case made a good recovery.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS.
A widespread epidemic of poliomyelitis affected the whole
country during the second half of the year, and in this district
five cases were confirmed. In two other cases residents of the
district were taken ill while temporarily absent although infection
had probably taken place before leaving. Of these seven
cases, five made a complete recovery. Of the remaining two —
one, a young adult woman was left with rather severe paralysis
of both lower limbs; and the other, a child, had some residual
paralysis of one leg.
MEASLES.
Two hundred and forty cases of measles were notified, an
average number. Four of these were removed to hospital with
complications, but all made a good recovery. Prophylactic
serum for contacts was supplied in four cases.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The number of cases of whooping cough notified was 39,
a figure much below the average. Six of these were removed to
hospital, but all did well. One child, age 3, died at home.
TYPHOID FEVER.
Two cases of typhoid fever were reported. One was the
case of a soldier who had obviously contracted his infection
while abroad. He made a good recovery. The other was a
child of three who was taken suddenly ill and died a few hours
after admission to hospital. The diagnosis was based on the
post mortem appearance of a section of the intestine and there
was no bacteriological confirmation.
The second death classified as Typhoid fever and shown in
the causes of death on page 3 occurred in the person of a
man aged 73 years who suffered from the disease more than
30 years ago. The heart disease which caused death was
apparently attributed to his previous illness.
SCABIES.
The scheme for the treatment of scabies referred to in
recent reports continued successfully. During 1947 131 persons
from 30 families received treatment. Of these 78 persons showed
definite lesions, the remainder being contacts in the same
family. These numbers show a considerable reduction on recent
years.