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4.
Whooping Cough.
The number of cases of whooping cough notified was 21. No
deaths occurred.
Whooping cough is one of the most serious diseases of childhood
and mothers appreciate the facilities for immunisation which sure
available. It is to be hoped that whooping cough immunisation will
prove as effective as immunisation against diphtheria.
Tetanus.
Inoculation against tetanus has been available since 1956 and is
now widely accepted. Althapgh not a common disease, the mortality rate
is high and immunisation is recommended. 329 children were immunised
during the year.
Smallpox Vaccination.
Vaccinations 418.
Revaccinations 64.
482.
Of the above, 206 individuals were vaccinated or revaccinated
by private practitioners.
375 of the persons vaccinated were under one year of age.
The substantial degree of protection from smallpox which the
population had during the time of compulsory vaccination is being slowly
reduced due to the reduction throughout the country in the numbers of
children vaccinated at the appropriate time. The percentage of infants
under 1 year vaccinated in this Borough during the year was 75. 9%.
As with diphtheria immunisation, all medical practitioners
providing general medical services in the area are given an opportunity
to provide services for carrying out vaccinations.
Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases of scarlet fever notified during the year
was 33, giving an incidence rate of 0.73 per thousand population.
All the cases were very mild.
Measles.
The number of cases of measles notified (385) was higher than in
1958. No deaths occurred.