Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-06-26
Typhoid Hits Low Mark
But lis Carriers Still
Menace Many Areas
BY FRANK CAREY,


ing killer, is at its lowest ebb in
the United States, but typhoid
carriers known and undis-
covered-offer a continuing chal-
lenge to the vigilance of health de-
partments.
Carriers. themselves immune to
typhoid, harbor transmittable germs
within their bodies - sometimes
throughout life. One medical writer
describes these germs as deadly
as the concealed weapon of a gang
ster." Other authorities take a less
alarming view.
Transmitted by a microbe dis
charged in the bodily waste of suf-
ferers, typhoid kills one in 10 VIC
Tins. Three Of every 100 recovered
cases become chronic carriers. In
rare cases a person may become a
carrier without having showing
clinical symptoms of the disease.
No Known Drug Weapon.
There is no known drug weapon
against microbes either in the &C.
tive disease or in the carrier state
Surgical removal of the gall blad-
der, where the germs lodge in most
carriers, is the only known effective
treatment, but 1t is not always sue
cessful and is considered dangerous
by some health authorities. Some
carriers become germ-free by them
selves. .
Typhoid must be reported to
health authorities in all States, and
most States have laws or regula-
tions designed to supervise known
chronic carriers and keep them from
spreading infection.
But constant hunt goes on to
detect far greater number Of car
riers who, innocently or otherwise,
remain unSupervised.
A national poll of State health
departments just made by the AS
ISOLATED Press (no countrywide
figures were available) showed:
/. Thirty-six States and the Dis
trict Of Columbia had a record Of
known carriers, a total Of 1888, OF
the remaining States, only Ari-
IONA and Wyoming reported no
known carriers. Rhode Island re-
ported "a few" Vermont, Missouri,
Texas, South Carolina, Alabama,
West Virginia. Nevada, South d.
kota and Colorado gave on specific
records.
Thirteen Offer Estimates.
2. Thirteen States ventured esti-
mates of Undecided" carriers,
placing the total at 9,295. OF these,
5000 were estimated by Mississippi,
which said the figure might be as
high as 5000. Other States report
ing We're: New York, 1,750; Lou
isiana, 300; Massachusetts,, 1900;
Illinois, $50; Michigan, 800; North
Dakota, 10: Georgia, 1900; Iowa,
80: Ohio, "a; Wisconsin, 800; Ore
gon, 20-25; Tennessee, 81.
Some estimates were Just rough
guesses. Others we're based on the
known and sometimes suspected in
cidence of typhoid over number
of years, coupled with the fact 8
per cent of cases become chronic
carriers.
DR.. Charles Armstrong, chief of
the Division of Infectious Diseases
of the United States Public Health
Service, was asked by the Asso-
ciated Press to appraise these fig
ureS. He said:
These reported figures are chal-
longing. but by no means should
they be cause for national alarm.
They are challenging In that
they re-emphasize the need for
communities everywhere to main
tain the sanitary safeguards and
public health measures which have
contributed largely to the steady
reduction in incidence and mortality
Of typhoid fever.
"On the other hand, the case
rates and the death rates from
typhoid are now at their lowest
point In recorded United States
medical history. This offers evi-
dence In itself, I believe. that ty-
phoid carriers-whatever their NUM-
ber-are in the majority Of cases
controlled by one of these factors:
First, the surveillance kept on
known carriers; second, modern
methods of protecting food. milk and
water supplies which provide auto
matte safeguards against many
undecided carriers; third, the mod
ern appreciation Of personal hy-
giene, which undoubtedly prevents
many other undetected carriers
from spreading infection.
Carriers have been with lis for