Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-08-05
UNDULANT FEVER IN
STATE IS REPORTED
Board of Health Learns of
: II Cases; 1t Is Contract
ed From Animals

Raligh, Aug 5-Sventeen cases of
undulant fever from fourteen widely
separated counties in the State nave
been reported to the State Board or
Health for the first six months OF
this year. No deaths from this dis
ease were reported for this year or
last. but two were recorded for 1884
and ten or more for the State since
the disease was made reportable in
1929
Undulant fever often referred to as
Malta fever, is one of the new dis
eases that have made their appear
ance in the United States in recent
wears. While it is not a common dis
ease, il has become widespread in
this country, there having been cas-
es in all parts of this state and near
" every state in the Union. 1t is one
of those diseases that is conveyed to
man from infected animals. cows
being the animal that transmits the
disease for the most part in this
State The infection among cows is
commonly known as Contagious Abor
ton, On account of the usual symp-
tom of the premature birth of calves
which it causes. Goats and pigs are
subject to the infection, as doubtless
other domestic animals are.
Undulant fever in human beings is
characterized by a protracted fever,
often lasting as long as four months,
and having an irregular undulating
fever curve, hence "a the name. In
some cases, it causes extreme irrita-
ton, while in other the reactions are
slight. The symptoms vary from
low fever with discomfort lasting
from one to two weeks to a long and
prostrating illness lasting for months,
and which may recur. from time to
time through a period of years Death
Is possible from this disease, but does
not occur frequently.
Laboratory aid is usually essen
tial In diagnosing it, since the clint
cal symptoms vary greatly. The i'll
ness is easily mistaken for malaria,
typhoid, tuberculosis, or some other
acute infection.
The disease is contracted either by
handling infected animals and car
cases, or by drinking milk from in
fected cows. Country people are more
especially if the latter use pasteuriz-
ed milk. Farmers, stOck-raisers, vet
erinarians and butchers are special
groups more liable to become infected
than others, on account of their con-
tact with animals and animal carcas-
SEES.
From public health point of view,
especially when the low death rate
from this disease is con ,idered, it is
not OF major Importance, but looked
at from the standpoint of sickness
ana inability of men, women and chi,-
dren, and the destruction it causes in
valuable herds of cows, it is of great
Importance. While no definite means
OF cure for undulant fever has been
found, the infection can be elimir at
ed. This is done by DESTROYING the
cattle or other animals CARRYING the
infection and by boiling or pastcur-
izing all milk
AT present the State Department of
Agriculture is ct work in So com
Ties In the state in an effort to
stamp out the disease, which with
the cooperation of all The people own
ing cows is reasonable to expect. AL
ready most of the cities and large
towns in the state have adopted ordi-
nances requiring that a., milk sold
IN these cities be from herds scieo,i-
neatly tested and found free of the
infection.