HIGH DEATH RATE

Evening Star, Issue 20556, 7 August 1930, Page 5

HIGH DEATH RATE

♦— INCREASE IN DUNEDIN DISTRICT YEAR FREE FROM SERIOUS EPIDEMICS The death rate in, 1929-30 per 1.000 of the Dunedin city population—9.99— was, with one exception, the highest of any of the fourteen towns included in the urban areas of New Zealand. The dominion death rate was 9.15. The city’s death rate for 1928 was 9.54, and that for the dominion was 9.03.

The figures are contained in the annual report of the chief sanitary inspector (Mr I'l, J. King) to the City Council.

The year had been comparatively free from any serious epidemic of infectious disease, stated Mr King. Scarlet fever and tuberculosis Continue to furnish the greatest number of cases, representing 80 per cent, of the total. Fortunately, a reduction on the previous year’s figures is shown. It will be seen that scarlet fever cases average 15.75 r er month. In two of the winter months—Juno and July—thn numbers swelled to _ twenty-nine and twenty-four respectively. This had Lite temporary effect of taxing hospital accommodation for infectious cases. With a limited number of beds available and each patient receiving treatment for six weeks, the difficulty of the hospital authorities can he readily appreciated. However, the notifications dropped to seventeen in August, and the position became easier. The following were the notifications; —Scarlet fever, 189; T. 8., 65; diphtheria, 7; erysipelas, 17; pneumonia, 23; pneumonic influenza, 4; tetanus, 1; hydatids, 4; typhoid, 1; cerebro-spinal meningitis, 3; a total of 314.

As a preventive measure 262 premises were disinfected.