Evening star., 1953-05-22
PrinceGeorqes
Reports 7 New
Polio Cases
Comma GIobuIin
Aids Families Of
Stricken Children

Prince Georges County health
authorities yesterday reported
two new paralytic type polio
cases which resulted in the first
use of gamma globulin in nearby
Maryland.
The victims are 2-year-old
John Edward Kubis, son of Mr..
and Mrs. John r. Kubis of 10441
Edgefield drive. Knollwood, and
Susan Sharon, 10, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Sharon
of 1915 Quinwopd street, Hyatts-
vile. Both were admitted to
Children's Hospital.
| The Kubis child's three sisters
were innocuated with gamma
globulin by Dr.. Benjamin Miller.
DR.. Bjorn Gudbrandsson innocu-
lated Susan's 7-year-old sister
Maureen.
Announcement Of the first use
OF the new serum in nearby
Maryland coincided with dis
closure of details concerning the
use to which the short supply
of gamma globulin will be put in
both Maryland and Virginia.
Both States will reserve the
serum for household contacts"
OF polio, but slight differences in
carrying out the innoculation
programs are evident.
Differences in Ages.
The differences lie in the age
brackets eligible for gamma
globulin shots.
In Virginia. as long as polio
strikes a family, all those be-
tween the ages of 6 months and
Is years can get the shots, which
are effective against paralytic
polio if given in time.
In Maryland, household con-
facts up to 18 years of age will
receive the serum.
The reason for the differences.
one health officer said. is that
the selected age brackets in each
State are based on the groups
with the highest incidence of
polio over a period of five years.
And since the amount of
gamma globulin is given to an
individual according to his
weight, health directors are will
ing to gamble on the health of
adults by reserving scarce
gamma globulin for lighter chill
dren. An individual weighing
rs pounds requires about 10 Gu
bic centimeters of gamma globu-
lin for polio protection. An
adult Of 200 pounds would need
% cubic centimeters.
For Expectant Mothers.
In both States, pregnant
women will receive gamma globu-
lin SO long as they are contacts.
Health departments in areas
near the District will be able to
obtain gamma globulin as soon
as polio case is reported. Doc
tors will be able to obtain the
serum only on the basis of a
laboratory confirmation of their
diagnosis of polio.
Health officers in MARYLAND,
according to DR.. Robert H. Riley,
State director of health, will be
urged to use their common
sense" in cases that might occur
just out of the age brackets.
AS an example, he described a
family of four. One child is 10.
the other 19. If the 10-year-old
gets polio, the 19-year-old would
probably get gamma glcbulin
shots. if requested by his doctor.
The decision would be up to the
local health officer. The cline"
is not definitely drawn in these
cases.
NVVuAu
This pattern of gamma globu-
lin distribution will be followed in
both States, according to health
officers. But it will not hold true
If polio reaches an epidemic
stage.
In an epidemic, another plan
OF distribution will have to be
set up along the lines that per-
sons, other than family contacts,
will be able to get the shots.
The problem of distribution
was discussed by local health
officers attending the 33d annual
conference of the State Health
Department in Baltimore yes
terday.
DR.. Edward Davens, chief of
the Bureau of Preventive Medi-
cine Of the State Health DEPART
ment. told the conference that
the distribution plan already had
started with the issuance of some
globulin to two physicians in
Prince Georges County.
| Virginia, according to its
State health Office in Rich
mond, hopes to have at least
10000 cubic centimeters of
gamma globulin to dole out to
its county health departments.
This is felt to be enough to at
tempt to protect household con-
facts of 5000 cases. Over a
period Of five years, measured
from l947 to 1851, there have
been an average of sos cases of
polio a year in Virginia.
Gamma globulin has been col
lected over the Nation by the
Red Cross, then pooled into a
supply controlled by the Office
Of Defense Mobilization. State
health departments are getting
their supplies under the direc-
ton OF the ODM.