2
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA
544,341 were primary operations and 208,106 re-vaccinations. Out
of 41 districts from which reports have been received, 14 districts show
a total decrease of 46,280 as compared with their last year's figure,
while the remaining 27 districts return an increase of 100,898 opera-
tions. Thus there has been a net increase of 54,618 operations under
both heads. Of these, 23,323 were primary and 31,295 re-vaccinations.
The increase in many instances has resulted from the prevalence of
small-pox in various parts of the Province. In comparison with last
year, Akyab shows the greatest falling off of vaccination work
(—16,848),—followed by Kyaukpyu (—14,338),—whereas Pakôkku
(including the Hill Tracts) shows an increase of 13,899 and Myingyan
an increase of 10,085. The former deficit however is largely explained
by the fact that very high figures were recorded during the previous
year.
Statt. I. 3. Primary Vaccination.—Successful primary operations per-
formed in rural areas amounted to 514,577 with an increase of 26,369
over the work of the previous year. The districts showing a consider-
able increase in the number of successful operations performed as
compared with last year, are Myaungmva ( + 5,839), Southern Shan
States ( + 4,775), Thatôn ( + 4,119), Northern Shan States ( + 4,083),
Pakôkku ( + 2,781), Yamèthin ( + 2,453), Pyapôn ( + 2,216), Sagaing
(+1,713), Hanthawaddy (+1,553), Ma-ubin (+ 1,551), Mandalay
( + 1,507), Pegu (+1,406) and Meiktila ( + 1,254). A decrease in
successful primary vaccinations is shown only in 12 districts, the most
notable amongst them being Kyaukpyu (— 7,508), Magwe ( — 2,132),
Toungoo ( — 2,041), Upper Chindwin ( — 2,012) and Sandoway
(—1,584).
Lower Burma.—Taking the different Divisions separately,—the
Irrawaddy Division has done well, having an excess of 9,196 successful
primary operations to its credit; Bassein District is the only defaulter,
with a deficit of 1,291 operations below its last year's figures;
Tenasserim Division shows a net excess of 5,186 cases Contributed
mainly by Thatôn District with 4,119 additional operations. The two
districts of Salween and Tavoy show a falling off of 264 and 63 cases
respectively from last year's figures. Arakan Division as a whole shows
a decrease of 9,494 compared with its previous year's outturn. The
district of Kyaukpyu reported 15,588 primary operations for 1922-23 ;
this, coupled with the fact that during the year under report there was
no outbreak of small-pox in the district, explains the fall in operations
for this year to 8,080 under this head. The remaining deficit for the
Arakan Division is accounted for mainly by the fall in Sandoway
( —1,584). An explanation similar to the one stated above for
Kyaukpyu is noted in the Annual Report of Sandoway District;
but the Deputy Commissioner remarks,—''It is not satisfactory that
the marked improvement in 1922-23 should have been followed by a
falling-off in 1923-24. A capable and qualified Superintendent or an
Inspector of Vaccination is much needed and steps are being taken to
nominate a suitable person. The practice of inoculation, which is
common, has now become illegal by the extension of Section 3 of the
Burma Prohibition of Inoculation and Licensing of Vaccinators Act to
the district from 1st April 1924. There is no active opposition to
vaccination in the district." The Hill District of Arakan is the only