Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-24
RULING ON QUARANTINE MATTER,
Fifteen Days the Minimum Time for
Release of Patients.

Fifteen Days the Minimum Time for
Release of Patients.
Mayor Macrae, as president of the local
Board Of Health, yesterday made an Off
cial announcement to the effect that the
shortest period of quarantine for diph-
iberia would be fifteen days This de-
cision was reached as the result of a COM
munication from Prof. Henry Albert of
the Iowa state university, the state bac-
teriologist, answering certain questions
put 10 him regarding this much mooted
matter by City Physician Rice at the sug-
gestion of the local Board of Health.
After admitting in his communication
that the rules of the State Board Of
Health, as to quarantine for diphtheria,
are contradictory and inconsistent. Prof.
Albert, in answer to the questions pro-
pounded by DR. Rice answers as follows:
The board does not recognize any bac-
THEOLOGICAL examinations except those
made by q bacteriologist of the Board Of
There are but few cases where the
baciHt disappear entirely in less than
eight or ten days after the disappearance
no reason for sending specimens for eX-
animation before that time. have
therefore recommended that beginning
with about the tenth day after the dis
appearance of the membrane, the first
specimen for release from quarantine be
submitted for Examination; IL found posi-
tive, then others sent at intervals of from
hVe to seven days until a negative report
is received. Upon the receipt of such a
second swabbinE may be made and sub
mitted If also negative, then quarantine
may be released. If positive. then FUR
ther specimens sent until two consecu-
tive negative reports are received.
Only those who have been quarantined
with the patient, namely the nurse, neeJ
to have a archaeological examination
Fa1a from aVsnra ffrtp an n
only one in case II proves to be negative.
The other members of the family who
are IN the same house but who nave not
made
In regard 10 whether or not children
in family in which one is suffering from
diphtheria may remove to another. house,
cannot say positively The rules on
but 1t says nothing in regard 10 other
Children. A release of quarantine by
means OF the spirit of bacteriolOgical ,eX-
children to be removed to another house
| II on meteorological examination a mega
tive report was received, provided they
| had been In quarantine a sufficient length
/ OF time to cover the period Of incubation
ana provided, of course, that the othel
rules OF the board regarding change OF
| clothing. disinfection of person be com
| piled with.
/ The NTH question regarding the con
| sideration Of the incubation period Il
i
| Individual Is exposed TO diphtheria tn
4 germs do not necessarily immediatel!
| lodge on the tonsils or pharynx, and III
| probability is that in a vast majority o
cases negative report would be receives
a day or several days after the exposure
and since the incubation pe1iod is fror
two TO seven days, l would think that tn
rule, according to the spirit of bacteriOiog
tcal examination, would be that the swah
| bling, upon the result of which the releas
from quarantine Is made, be not taken un
III the end of the time Of the ordinar
incubation period.
While fifteen days will be the shortes
period Of quarantine for diphtheria,
may be longer, Mayor Macrae stated yes
terday. He said: Fifteen days will nc'
} be the minimum time from date of out
set OF disease until the first smear
made to be sent to the state bacteriC
logist. All those in contact with the d
seasod one must have a bacteriolagics
examination made Two smears must b
made at intervals OF at least twenty-fou
hours and these sent at once to the stat
bacteriOlogist II these are found to cor
tain no disease germs or bacilli, then whe
no disease germs or bacilh. then whe
the place has been Thoroughly fumigate
according TO law, the quarantine may b
released"
Regarding the Inconsistencies in tn
rules relative 20 quarantine OF the Stat
Board of Health, Prof. Albert announce
in his letter to City Physician Rice tina
he would bring them to the attention o
the board at the next meeting