DIPHTHERIA TOLL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 12

DIPHTHERIA TOLL

IMMUNISATION WOBK SCHOOL CHILDREN TREATED CAMPAIGN IN WELLINGTON REVIEW BY MEDICAL OFFICER [BY TELEGHAPH —OWN COimESrONDENT] WELLINGTON", Monday. The incidence of diphtheria in the Wellington health district appears to be slightly less than last year, according to figures quoted to-day by Dr. I'. Medical Officer of Health, Wellington, in a review of the infectious diseases position in Wellington for the first six months of 3930. Dr. Maclean said there were 11" cases of diphtheria and six deaths, compared with 136 .cases and two deaths during the corresponding period of 1938. The Health Department was carrying out a vigorous campaign of immunisation, but so far the treatment had not progressed sufficiently to have any marked effect on the returns for the district as a whole. Tho disease had been very prevalent in Upper Hutt during April and May and the majority of the schoolchildren there had been immunised during May and June, as well as a number of pre-schooi-ehildren. Reduction in Cases "Although it is too early yet for full immunity to have been established, there has already been a very considerable reduction in the number of cases occurring in that area." said Dr. Maclean. "As regards immunisation generally parents should not hesitate to allow their children this necessary protection. The procedure is quite without risk and offers a very high degree of protection against the disease. "Immunisation of pro-school children is even more important than that of children of school age, and preferably treatment should be given between the ages of six months and a year. Every child of this age is liable to contract diphtheria. "Viewed only as an economic proposition, the immunising of .'3OOO children a year is a far cheaper underfaking than is the treatment and care of 250 cases of diphtheria, not to mention the saving of lives, the prevention of a painful and distressing illness, the worry of parents and the school hours lost by both patients and contacts. Work with Measles "As measles is not notificable no records is available of cases occurring," said Dr. Maclean, "but one death so far has been reported this year, compared with 27 deaths during the same period of 1038. During last year's severe epidemic an endeavour was made to protect a number of susceptible children by the. injection, after exposure to infection, of the blood serum of an adult who had had measles. "The object of this procedure is to modify the attack to a mild one without complications, resulting in future immunity. It was possible to treat only a small number of children in this manner, but the results were encouraging and all thr> children concerned escaped with a light attack. It is hojied to extend this method of treatment should tho necessity occur in the future.