PREVENTION OF DIPHTHERIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 30 October 1925, Page 11

PREVENTION OF DIPHTHERIA.

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.

SKJTCTION OF A VACCINE. SJOUNT ALBERT AND MANUREWA VISITED. Tn New Zealand for the year ending December 31, 1924. there were 2717 cases of diphtheria with 82 deaths. Realising that it was desirable that all possible means of combating this terrible disease should be utilised a special campaign has been embarked upon by the Health Department during the last two years with a view of eradicating diphtheria, or at least very much lessening tjie incidence of this disease. Discuseing the subject with a ''Star" reporter, school medical officers in Auckland were emphatic in their opinion that it was now possible to protect a child from diphtheria in the same way as vaccination protects against smallpox. This many be done by giving an injection of vaccine toxin-antitoxin at weekly intervals for three weeks wheh renders the child immune to diphtheria.

Thousands of children every rear in England and in America receive this pro- I tective treatment with the effect that the incidence of diphtheria is greatly lessened. In New Zealand the treatment has been carried out in selected schools and orphanages with, it is claimed, good results. ■ Continuing, these medical officers said that the inoculation of toxin-antitoxin mixtures has been shown to confer an absolute protection against diphtheria. The school medical service is spreading information in regard to this method of prophylaxis, or prevention, and i 3 carrying out actual duties of immunisation where a local demand for it has been expressed. This entails much •routine work. For instance two of the school medical officers. Dr. Wilkins and Dr. Henderson, have been attending the Mount Albert, Manurewa and Frankton Junction schools during the last week or two and have inoculated close on 600 scholars. Dr. Wilkins has been "doing" the two first mentioned institutions, and Dr. Henderson has been at Hamilton. Prior to the vaccinations being given the medical officers went to the schools concerned and had a talk with the parents, during the course of which the benefits of the treatment were fully explained.

In cases" where the medical officers cannot -go j to- the schools beforehand a circular ia sent to each individual parent or guardian giving particulars of what is "being"done, as well as pointing out that the Department of Health was anxious to make toxin-antitoxin immunisation against diphtheria as widely known as possible. The parents are aeked ; -to sign a form, if it is wished that the child should benefit from the protective treatment, and return it to the school', medical officer, care of the head teacher of the school.

:,It-was explained to the "Star" reporter that the treatment was a gradual one, and three small inoculations were given instead of one large dose. It was also

pointed out that immunity was not always acquired at once. A child inoculated to-day might develop diphtheria

in two months, or possibly six, but it

was a, fact that the inoculations did tend to the disease in the future. It je al9o the duty of the,school medical officers to Teport upon the hygienic conditions of school buildings to ensure that the environment of the child in regard to sunshine, fresh air, cleanliness, etc.. is satisfactory. Closely allied to the

work of the school medical branch is the

work of the dental division of the department. It is necessary for an efficient school medical service that there be a close liaison between the school medical officer, the dental officer, the Education Department, and the teacher, as is actually the case.