Evening star., 1948-07-22
A s@"sTHE EVENING STAR Washington, D. c.
; Stricken by Polio
Here as u. ). Total
Increases 10 1903

increases 10 3,0V3 |
Three new initial paralysis cases
were reported to the District Health
Department today while the Public
Health Service announced the num-
ber Of cases In the Nation mounted
to 3,603 as of last week end.
Nineteen cases have been reported
to the Health Department thus far
this year-nine Washington resi-
dents and 10 nonresidents. Last
year at this time there were three
resident and five nonresident cases.
One of the new cases reported to-
day was 9-year-old colored boy
living in the 1700 block of Willard
street NV. The others were nom
reSident-a 20-year man from
the 400 block OF Commonwealth
avenue, Alexandria, and a 5-year-
old girl from Berwyn, Md. The
children are in Childrens Hospital
and the man is at Mount Alto Vet
erans' Hospital.
IPAaOLlC INot lhulSdtSu
DIR. James G. Cummings, director
of the Health Department Bureau
of Preventable Diseases, said the
public locally should not be appre-
hensive. Washington and the
nearby area of Maryland and Viz
ginia. he pointed out, have not de-
veloped SUFFICIENT cases to indicate
an epidemic this year.
We have had no deaths so far
this year from polio, and very few
cases are going to have permanent
paralysis" DR.. Cummings said.
MANY are going to be discharged
with no paralysis whatsoever. Some
cases have developed weakness OF
the muscles. but it is only temporary
and they will recover.
Washington has never had
high rate of polio compared with
other sections of the country and it
usually strikes here in July and
August. July is almost gone, SO we
are about half way through the
season. Of course, we always have
some polio and this year it has only
been normal"
Residents Warned on Travel.
Washington area residents were
cautioned by the American Automo-
bile Association against vacationing
and travelling, especially with chill
dren, in the danger" areas of North
Carolina where 1888 cases have been
reported. In statement, the asso-
ciation said we'll over the average
number of cases have occurred in
more than 80 North Carolina coun-
ties. The statement said the area
west of Wilson and Rocky Mount,
in North Carolina, was particularly
dangerous"
The 3,603 cases throughout the
Nation at the end of last week, the
Public Health Service reported, is
1,011 more than for the same period
in 1916, the second worst infantile
paralysis year on record.
The service said the majority of
the cases are still being reported
from three States-North Carolina,
California and Texas. While six
other Southern States have reported
slightly more than the expected
number of cases, the service said
there has been mo significant con-
centration" of cases except in the
three hard-hit States.
III New Victims in Week.
Whether this years totals will
exceed those for 1916 at years END
still remains to be seen. In 1916,
the polio rise began later than 1t
did this year. Thus, the service
said, it is possible that this years
peak" will be reached earlier than
in 1896
Up to July II, officials said, only
IA States have reported more than
SO cases. Maine has reported only
one, and New Hampshire and
Rhode Island have reported none.
For the week ending July IT,,
a total of TIT new cases was re-
ported for the Nation, compared
with 511 the previous week. This
brought the years total to that
date to 1903, compared with 1,419I
for the comparable period last year,
2,592 for 1946 and 1879 for the
five-year average.
OF the total new cases, approx
mately 81 per cent we're reported by
North Carolina. California and
Texas.
States Total 686 for Year.
For the week, North Carolina tai
lied 1876 compared with 100 the week
before: California 164, compared
with 90. while Texas showed q
drop to rs from 49,
On July II, North Carolina S
total for the year was 686, but in
two days, % new cases were report
ed. bringing the total on July 10 to
709. State officials said the number
went up to 783 today.
Texas has had $40 cases up to
July IT; California, GIL
Other States reporting more than
SO cases for the year up to July II
are: New York, LOG; Iowa. a. Ohio,
IS: Florida, II: Nebraska. Ct: New
Jersey. 50: Illinois. SO; Oklahoma,
ST; Virginia, So; Indiana, 81, and
Idaho, 81.
Oficials said the Southern States
that have shown slightly more than
expected incidence" are Virginia,
with its So cases to July II; Florida,
with its II; Georgia. At; Tennessee,
a.: Alabama, Al, and South Caro-
lima. 80.