INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 8

INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS

GREATER - THAN POLIOMYELITIS FIFTH HIGHEST CAUSE OF DEATH Medical authorities who recently described the public attituue to infantile paralysis as “exaggerated complacency” might just as well have been talking about tuberculosis, in the opinion of sonie Auckland doctors, according to the “New Zealand Herald.” The doctors say that, whereas infantile paralysis occurs occasionally, tuberculosis is a more constant and virulent disease, which does not receive the same public attention. They add that pulmonary tuberculosis alone claims more victims in a year than a paralysis epidemic does. It also causes 10 times as many deaths. The views of the Auckland doctors were confirmed by the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. J. H. Blakelock) yesterday. In the Canterbury-Westland health district last year, out of 110 deaths due to communicable diseases. 101 had been caused by tuberculosis. The nine other deaths Lr.d been caused by typhoid (3), puerperal fever (3), eclampsia (2), and tetanus (1). Last year there were 219 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis notified, and there were 81 deaths, although the deaths naturally were not confined to the new cases alone, Dr. Blakelock said. There were 72 new cases oi non-pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 deaths. Among the Maori population in the district there had been six deaths from communicable diseases, and all were from tuberculosis. The annual report of the Department of Health in 1946 showed that the morbidity of all forms of tuberculosis was 9617, including 2485 Maoris, compared with 9077 in 1945 and 7526 in 1944. The increase was thought to be more likely due to intensified casefinding and better notification than a marked increase in prevalence. In 1946 the known incidence rates for all forms of tuberculosis were: European 4.32 for every 1000 head of population, and Maoris 24.56 for every 1000. Of the 9617 cases on the register at December 31. 1946, 3304 were returned as being in the “active” state, "infectious” or "potentially infectious.” The number of deaths in 1946 was 956, comprising 561 Europeans and 395 Maoris. According to official figures tuberculosis is the fifth highest cause of death in New Zealand and the highest single cause of death in females in the age group 20-30 years, both for Maoris and Europeans. One-fifth to one-sixth of the hospital population was suffering from tuberculous disease. More than one-third of the registered cases were known to be in an active infectious or potentially infectious state. There was a greater need than ever for viligance by the public against tuberculosis. Dr. Blakelock said.