PUBLIC HEALTH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16420, 14 January 1919, Page 2

PUBLIC HEALTH.

CANTERBURY-WEST COAST "DISTRICT. For iho week ended r.oon yesterday 24 cases of infectious diseases were reported in the Canterbury-West Coast district. In tlie North Canterbury portion there wore G cases of scarlet fever, 0 of diphtheria, 4 of tuberculosis, 1 of measles, and 1 of neonatorum; in Buller, 1 case of influenza; in Inangahua, 1 esse of influenza: in Gr«>y, 1 case of diphtheria; in Ashburton, 1 case of tuberculosis and 1 of cerebro-spinal-menin-gitis; and in South Canterbury 1 case of influenza. STATISTICS FOR 191 S. The official figures for the Canterbury-West Coa6t Health District for 1318 are now available and show that over the whole district, in 191S there wero 315 a cases of infectious diseases reported as compared with 240S in 1317—an increase of 751. This increase is, however, more than accounted for by the fact that in 1918 there were 1306 cases of influenza and 129 cases of measles reported as compared with no ca£es of influenza or measles in 1917. Tho totals in respoct of each notifiable disease fo r 1918 and 1917 for the whole district are as follows: — Disease. 1918. 1917. No. No. Scarlet fever .. •• 486 PB3 Diphtheria •• •• 879 1071 IJnt«ric •• ..36 26 Tuberculosis . •• 254 355 Cerebro-spinal meningitis ..35 3 Poliomyelit.B .. 0 2 Puerperal septicaemia .. 23 23 Erysipelas . • _.. 19 34 Hydatids • ■ .. 9 6 Ophthalmia neonatorum ..3 3 Trachoma •• ..0 2 Antinomycosis ... ..0 1 Influenza .. 1306 0 Measles .. •• 129 0 Totals . • 3159 2408 It will be noted that there aro gratifying and satisfactory decreases recoided in rebpect of the cases or scarlet fever, diphtheria, and tuberculosis re-ported in liilS as compared with 1-Ji'i. Apart iiom last year's influenza figures:—due, of course, to tho epidemic which swept tho wiioje uoiuinion—the diseases showing increased numbers of cases reported ar© comparatively tew, tho most noteworthy beiu tr thW increase of cerebro-spinal-meningi-tis cases from 3 in 1917 to 15 in 1918. The figures relating to the North Canterbury portion of tho Health District, with thoso for 1917 are as follows: — Disease. 1918. 1917. No. No. Scarlet fever ... • • 303 761 Diphtheria. .. *• 108 41 Enteric •• •• 1* ( 12 Tuberculosis . • _ • • 18» -11 Cerebro-spinal-ineningitis 9 1 Poliomyelitis .. .. 0 N 1 Puerpereal sceptictemia .. 12 17 Erysipelas ■ ■ • 1* 33 Hydatids •• •• ® - Ophthalmia neoiialorium ..0 3 Trachoma .. ..0 1 Autiuomycosi3 ... .. 0 1 Influenza .• .... 1061 0 Measles 181 0 Totals .. .. 2415 1899 In respeot of Iho other portions of the Health District the following table gives comparative particulars of the more prevalent diseases: .a °| 30 ■ I | % 3 "E -2 a® ■£ S ~ s 5s £ s Ashburton 108 41 29 22 9 23 S. Canterbury 66 52 79 181 .32 43 Buller' 1 4 20 17 3 7 Grey . • 8 10 45 11 18 —" Inangahua ..0.6 8 6 4 10 Westland ..0 0 8 8 3 4 • Totals .. 183 . 122 169 245 69 114 The figures relating to case® of influenza and measles last year are as follows: Part of District. Influenza. Measles. Ho. No. ' North Canterbury .. 1061 181 Ashburton ... 82 5 South Canterbury .. 107 2 Buller .. ..21 1 Grey . • • • 1 0 Inangalraa. •• 12 0 Westland •• 8 " Totals .. •• 1300 1-0