Report of the Commission of Public Health to the Minister of Public Health / Department of Public Health, Victoria.

  • Victoria. Commission of Public Health
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Commission of Public Health to the Minister of Public Health / Department of Public Health, Victoria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    43/64 (page 43)
    Summary of Nature and Extent of Work carried Out. Records of infectious diseases for the 18 months ending 30tli June, 1925- Infectious Diseases. (Uses. Diphtheria .. .. .. .. .. 506 Scarlet Fever Typhoid Fever Tuberculosis 5 E i ice ph a 1 it is I jet ha rg i Infantile Paralysis Anthrax Tetanus Puerperal Fever Of the notifiable infectious diseases occur] the greatest prevalence for the past 18 months is seen in Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, Scarlet Fever, and Tuberculosis. Diphtheria.—Of the 506 cases of Diphtheria, 73 occurred in Ballarat City, 138 in Mildura Town, and 169 in Mildura Shire. 132 147 104 2 2 1 1 ring in the North-Western Area of Victoria, Typhoid Fever,—Mildura Town had 42 cases, Mildura Shire 14 cases, Maryborough 16 cases, Ararat Borough 14 cases, and Tullaroop Shire 7 cases. Scarlet Fever.—There were 23 cases in Ballarat City, and 17 cases in Kowree Shire. Tuberculosis.—29 cases occurred in Ballarat City, and 7 cases in Maryborough. The above figures reveal that Diphtheria is much too prevalent in Mildura Town and Mildura Shire, with populations of between five and six thousand people in each place respectively. As there are doubtless many carriers of the bacillus of Diphtheria amongst the school children of Mildura and Mildura Shire, a swabbing campaign of all throats of these children is the only 'method of detecting them. This procedure has also been recommended by the local Medical Officer of Health. Typhoid Fever is also too prevalent in Mildura Town and Shire. Local councils appear to neglect their respective duties in health matters. Though informed of the shocking state of dilapidation of many of the sanitary conveniences in both Mildura Town and Mildura Shire, very little has been undertaken to remedy these defects and so render them fly-proof. Outbreaks of Typhoid also occurred at Maryborough, Tullaroop Shire, and Ararat. Scarlet Fever.—This infectious disease threatened to become more prevalent than usual in most parts of the State and in some places was so, but with the exception of Kowree Shire where 17 cases occurred, there was no increase of the disease in the North-Western District over previous years. Tuberculosis.—This disease showed 104 cases only in 18 months, whereas in 1923 there were 80 cases reported for the 12 months ending 31st December. Whooping Cough.—Whooping Cough has been more prevalent than usual amongst school children this year. Notification oj Injections Diseases. There is frequently considerable delay in notification of infectious diseases owing to awaiting returns from the result of bacteriological examination of material sent by medical practitioners, and delay in transit. In my opinion it would be a preferable procedure to make a provisional diagnosis where an infectious disease is suspected, and a correction later, if necessary. This would allow of earlier investigation in a commencing outbreak and may be the means of stamping out a threatened epidemic. It was found that some local authorities do not keep a register of infectious diseases, merely filing notification forms. The keeping of such a register is highly desirable for reference, if necessary. Notification forms are likely to become detached from the file and be lost. Sewerage Scheme in Ballarat. Visits for purposes of inspection have been made from time to time to the sewerage area ’ in Ballarat in order to learn the progress of the scheme. Requirements are now completed for the connexion of 800 tenements. This includes the outfall, main, and sub-mains, together with reticulation. Disposal Works.—The disposal works are so far extended as to allow of the disposal of sewage from 800 tenements, excepting in the case of the filter beds, the extension of which, to meet these requirements, in now in hand.