Health Committee's report / City of Melbourne.

  • Melbourne (Vic.). Health Committee.
Date:
[1946]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health Committee's report / City of Melbourne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/32 (page 13)
    INFECTIOUS DISEASES Health Department, Town Hall Chambers Melbourne. The Medical Officer of Health: 22nd April, 1947. Sir, I have the honour to submit a report on the incidence and control of infectious diseases in the City of Melbourne for the year 1946. DIPHTHERIA. TABLE I. Year No. of Cases per Case Fatality per Cases 100,000 Deaths Fatality 1,00,000 1915-24 (average) .. — — - — 373 355 14 3.7 13 1925-34 (average) . 1935 .. 230 257 239 266 6 7 2.9 2.7 7 7 1936 . -. 241 259 5 2.0 5 1937 . .. 127 137 2 1.5 2 1938 . ........ _.. ..- . 103 111 1 1.0 1 1939 . ... .- 110 118 2 1.8 2 1940 .. . .... 100 106 2 2.0 2 1941 . 235 246 9 3.8 9 1942 .. 56 59 1 1.8 1 1943 .- . 48 48 3 6.2 3 1944 . 71 71 3 4.2 3 1945 . 35 34 1 2.8 1 1946 ......... * Immunization commenced in City. 34 32 2 6.0 2 The incidence of diphtheria is still very low, and except in a few isolated instances where local outbreaks have occured, this is true also for the metropolitan area and the State of Victoria. Incidence. The incidence of diphtheria is the lowest ever recorded in the City. There were 34 cases, 16 in males and IS in females. In view of the overcrowding and bad hygiene in many closely populated areas, this is very gratifying, and it is necessary, under the existing conditions, to stress the continued need for immunisation, particularly in all babies aged from 9-12 months. If an epidemic is to be avoided, at least 70 per cent, of these children should be protected, and although the figures are improving they are still below the safety level. Deaths. There were two deaths. Both were girls, aged 2 years. One child had been ill only two days when medical aid was sought, and the doctor sent her to hospital immediately, but she died less than a week later from toxic myocarditis. In the case of the other child, there was some doubt about the date of onset, as she was feverish for some days, and the parents attributed this, and the ulcerated condition of the mouth, to teething. She died four days after admission to hospital. Neither child had been immunised. One family had refused, and the other had only recently come to the district. 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 Melbourne City . 59 48 71 35 32 Nine adjacent municipilaties 101 64 69 85 37 Greater Melbourne . 65 50 54 51 23 Whole State . ... 68 67 62 45 24 TABLE II. • AGE INCIDENCE AGE males FEMALES Percentages 0-1 year . — 1 ] 1 year . 2 years . 3 years . 2 1 4 0 5 2 y 8 males ( 8 females ) 16 47 4 years . 1 0 ) 5 years . . 3 1 6 years . 1 1 ) 7 males 7 years . 3 O Ut l 13 38 8 years . 0 0 | 6 females / f 9 years . 0 2 10 years . 0 0 I 0 11 years . 12 years . . 0 0 1 female 1 3 13 years .... 0 0 14 years . 0 0 1 male I 4 12 15 years and over . 1 3 3 females ) Totals . 16 males IS females. 34 cases