LIGHT OUTBREAK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 6

LIGHT OUTBREAK

SCARLET FEVER IN DUNEDIN A FAIRLY MILD TYPE " There has been a light recrudescence of scarlet fever in Dunedin, the incidence of which is always expected to increase during the months of May, June, and July,” the district medical officer of health, Dr G. O. L. Dempster, informed the Daily Times yesterday. 1 The cases are scattered throughout the district, and are of a fairly mild type, being confined mainly to children. The health of the community otherwise is good. . There has been a fair amount of whooping cough prevalent recently, but it is not of a serious nature. Most of the cases are found among children round about the five-year-old group. Fortunately, there has been an absence of diphtheria, and no cases have been notified, for some months. The immunisation campaign for infants and pre-school children is being pursued diligently by the department, whose policy is to endeavour to have as many children as possible immunised before their first birthday. ' Steps are being taken to have this policy implemented throughout New Zealand. The general position in regard to notifiable and infectious diseases during the past year was described by Dr Dempster as satisfactory. Although it was anticipated that poliomyelitis might reappear during the summer months fortunately this did not occur. “The increase in the number of motorists has made necessary a more strict supervision of motor camps to prevent any possibility of the spread of disease,” Dr Dempster added, “ and throughout Otago the conditions in the main camps are satisfactory.”