The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

24 The Health Bulletin June, 1951cently without sufficient time havingelapsed for the deaths to have increasedproportionately.Substantial improvement was made inthe reported incidence of the followingdiseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, and murinetyphus fever. Gonorrhea reached arecord high in 1949 with 16,173 reports.The 1950 total of 14,930 reports is slightlylower than the 1948 total and may besignificant in view of the increased casefindingefforts being made throughoutthe state. Syphilis reports are at thelowest level since 1933 and the declinehas now been continuous since 1939except for one post-war year. Earlysyphilis declined approximately 40% andlate syphilis 20% in 1950 as comparedto 1949. Typhus fever has declined withoutinterruption from a high of 236 reportsin 1944 to 12 in 1950; DDT dustingin endemic areas apparently has beenhighly effective in achieving this result.Poliomyelitis reports total 756. Thesecases were widely distributed throughoutthe state so that no clear cut epidemicfocus appeared as in other years havingan equally high attack rate.Whooping cough cases, which hadreached a record low number in 1949,were more than doubled in 1950. Thetotal of 3,552 cases is larger than wasreported in the preceding four years,and indicates a need for renewed emphasison pertussis immunization of infants.The change in incidence of other communicablediseases is not noteworthy.The animal diseases of importance tohumans, such as tularemia, undulantfever, and Rocky Mountain spottedfever, have remained at approximatelythe same level. Resolutions have beenadopted recently by the North CarolinaVeterinary Medical Association and certainlocal veterinarian associations recommendingthat a veterinarian trainedin public health be added to the staffof the State Board of Health to assistin the control of those animal diseasesof importance to public health. The needfor this service has been emphasized,particularly with respect to rabies.The typhoid carrier register maintainedby this Section held the namesof 76 individuals as of the close of theyear 1950 as compared to 78 the yearprevious.TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL SECTION—William A. Smith, M.D., ChiefThe principal function of the TuberculosisSection is case-finding by community-wideand special x-ray surveys.Home follow-up and immediate followupof cases found during mass surveysis continually emphasized to health departments.To that end, the Sectionmaintains follow-up personnel in thecounty or district after the departure ofthe mass x-ray personnel. The duty ofthis personnel is to reexamine those personswho were definitely or tentativelydiagnosed as having tuberculosis duringthe regular survey. The final resultsof follow-up activities in fourteen county-communitysurveys made in 1950showed that 92% of those persons whorequire reexamination responded by returningto the Health Department forsuch examination.Health education and publicity inconnection particularly with communitywidesurveys is another responsibility.This work is performed by two healtheducators. This health education beginsprior to the beginning of a survey andcontinues during the survey.Other responsibilities and activitiesinclude liaison with:State institutions (for better casefinding)The Director, State SanatoriaState Tuberculosis AssociationN. C. Division of Vocational RehabilitationState Department of Public WelfareLocal health departments (for casefindingand other measures pertainingto tuberculosis control)Cooperation with Duke UniversityHospital (pertaining to x-ray ofhospital admissions and other personsby furnishing the hospital aGeneral Electric 4x5 x-ray apparatus)Interpretation of 4 x 5 film for onecountyFurnishing funds to purchase x-ray