Milford chronicle., 1944-06-23
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
CASES LESS IN STATE
CONTINUED from FIRST Pase)

NCoulhueo Ahom EHot EABeJ
the picture, Delaware has had 204
less cases of communicable dis
eases reported this year than last.
Tuberculosis Gases Up
tuberculosis is the notable ex-
ceptiOn in this years downward
trend for there have been 81 cases
of "TB" reported so far this year
as compared to As from January to
June in 1913. This apparent in
crease in tuberculosis in the state
is attributed, not to more actual
cases of the disease, but to the
fact that there is better reporting
of the cases than formerly. Public
health nurses are following up the
families, and other people who
have worked closely with persons
who have died from tuberculosis,
or have gone to sanitariums. The
results are that many more assOci-
ates. or persons who have been ex-
posed to tuberculosis. are coming
to the Boards clinics for fluoro-
scOpic examinations than formerly
did, and more cases of "TB" are
being found in the early stages
when the patient. himself. did not
realize that he had contracted the
disease. This, public health Ofic-
ials feel, is encouraging, for early
discovery helps with early recov-
cry.
FlOurOscOpic Units Down state
The State Board of Health
maintains fluorscOpic units in Dow
er, Georgetown, and Laurel for the
benefits of dOwn-state folks who
find it difficult TO go to Brandy
wine Sanitarium at MarshalltOn
for this X-ray examination to To-
cate the presence of tuberculosis.
Communicable Diseases Down
WhOOping cough is one of the
contagious communicable diseases
of childhood which has shown a
marked decrease this year for
there have been only 10 cases re-
ported in the state since the first
of January, as compared to 1913
cases up to this time last year.
Mumps are down 10. with 80 cases
this year and 100 last; while chic
ken pOx so far in 1914 stands at S3
cases and last year by June there
had been 296 cases.
MeningOcoccus meningitis is on
ly slightly lowered. there having
been SO cases up to June last year,
as compared to "a this year.
No typhoid fever cases have been
reported so far this year, while
last year there were cases re-
ported by summer.
Communicable Diseases Up
On the other side of the picture.
scarlet fever went up this winter
and spring with 23S cases. as COM
pared with 154 cases reported to
the State Board of Health for the
first 5 months of last year. Pneu-
mOnia, with 10 cases recorded so
so far in 1914. exceeds by 5 last
years total of II for the same per-
iOd
There have been cases of Roc
key Mountain spotted fever in the |
state this spring while last year /
only . were reported up to June
10th
Isolation Urged
In view of the shortage of doc
tors and nurses in this state. as
elsewhere. the State Board of
Health espically urges parents of
children with communicable dis
eases to keep them separated from
other children in order that child
hood diseases will not be more
widely spread. They also point out
that the after-effects of these dis
eases are often the most serious
them. Weakened hearts
ears. glandular upsets,
loss of hearing. etc. may follow in
the wake of the so-called Child
hood diseases. Prevention is
IMPORTANT wherever possible,
stresses the Board.