For the current week 250 cases of poliomyelitis were reported, an increase of 52 over the number for the previous week. A total of 119 cases was reported for the same week last year. The cumulative total since the first of the year is 2,819 as com pared with 2,166 for the same period of 1952. The total reported since the seasonal low point, about April 1, is 1,237 as compared with 846 for the corresponding period of 1952.

The number of cases of poliomyelitis increased in several States, especially in the South Atlantic and South Central States. The number in Texas rose from 47 cases for the week ended May 30 to 56 for the current week. Alabama cases increased from 11 to 19, Georgia from 1 to 12, and North Carolina from 2 to 19. California showed a decrease from 33 to 29. In the latter State, 15 of the 29 cases were reported in Los Angeles County.

A high proportion of nonparalytic cases continues to be reported. In Los Angeles County 13 of 15 cases reported were stated to be nonparalytic.

For the current week a total of 13 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was reported in the United States. Of these, 7 were in the South Atlantic States and 3 were in the Mountain States. Four cases were reported in Virginia and 2 cases each in Georgia and New Mexico.

Psittacosis

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS

Dr. J. C. Hart, Connecticut Department of Health, reports a case of psittacosis in a 28-year-old woman. The patient developed a slight pleuritic pain which gradually became worse. She visited her physician on April 1, 1953, because of this pain. She also had a nonproductive cough and a low fever. Treatment with aureomycin and sulfonamides had no effect on the disease. On April 29 a blood specimen was taken and submitted for laboratory examination. The complement fixation test was positive for psittacosis in a dil ution of 1:40. It was on the basis of this test that a diagnosis of psittacosis was made. No history of any contact with psittacine or other birds was found. The patient did, however, occasionally purchase a live chicken from a neighbor. Chest X-ray was reported as negative for tuberculosis and there were no symptoms of lymphogranuloma venereum.

Streptococcal infection (type 12) with nephritis

Dr. Jesse G. Smith, Communicable Disease Center, has reported an outbreak of type 12 streptococcal infection in an institution in North Carolina. Of cultures from the throats of 40 children, streptococci were recovered from 19, and among 45 staff members, there were 13 with positive throat cultures. Twenty of the 32 strains were shown to be type 12. Since September 1952, there have been repeated episodes of pharyngitis in patients and staff members. Two definite and 1 suspect case of acute glomerulonephritis were found in the institution patients.

Plague infection

Mr. V. I. Miles, San Francisco Field Station, Public Health Service, reports that the following specimens from Washington and New Mexico have been proved positive for plague:

Specimen No. WB-15 consisting of 100 fleas, Catallagia decipiens, Meringis shannoni, Monopsyllus wagneri, and Microp

sylla sectilis, from 35 white-footed mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, which were trapped on May 15, 1953, about 10 miles southeast of Wilbur in Lincoln County, Washington.

Specimen WB-16 consisting of 39 fleas, Catalligia decipiens and Monopsyllus wagneri, from 8 white-footed mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, which were trapped on May 16, 5 miles south of Wilbur on State highway 4B.

A specimen of 4 fleas, Monopsyllus wagneri, obtained May 20 from 1 white-footed mouse, Peromyscus nasutus 4 miles north of Lamy on the Teal Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

A specimen consisting of 3 fleas, Peromyscapsylla hesperomys adelpha and Monopsyllus wagneri, obtained May 21 from 2 white-footed mice, Peromyscus maniculatus and Peromyscus truei, in the same area in New Mexico as the previous specimen.

Typhoid fever

Dr. A. A. Jenkins, Utah Department of Health, reports 6 cases of typhoid fever which resulted from the consumption of food in a cafeteria that had been patronized by all the patients on or about the same day. The infection was traced to a carrier who was em ployed in the kitchen of the cafeteria. The disease has been confirmed in 4 cases and the other 2 are under investigation. The wife of one of the patients has become ill and is suspected of having typhoid fever.

Malaria

Dr. W. L. Halverson, Director, California Department of Public Health, reports 10 military and 6 civilian cases of malaria for the current week. Of the civilian cases, 4 were vivax with delayed incubations associated with the outbreak in a girls' camp in 1952. The total new cases with onsets in 1953 is now 15. Seven of the original patients are reported to have had relapses.

Gastro-enteritis

Dr. D. S. Fleming, Minnesota Department of Health, reports an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among 250 pupils and teachers who ate lunch in a school. Of these, about 59 became ill from 12 to 24 hours later. The symptoms were nausea, occasional vomiting, some abdominal discomfort, and mild diarrhea. The school lunch consisted of mashed potatoes, hamburger gravy, whole kernel corn, bread, butter, milk, and half of an apple. All the food was prepared just prior to serving and none was available for bacteriological studies. Stool specimens from several of the patients failed to reveal any pathogenic organisms. It was reported that there was evidence of rodent infestation.

Dr. L. M. Schuman, Illinois Department of Public Health, reports 2 outbreaks of gastro-enteritis which were traced epidem iologically to a tavern in the northeastern part of the State. The first outbreak occurred after a dinner at the tavern, attended by a bowling party of 42 persons. Of these, 25 became ill 24 to 36 hours later with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea which lasted from 24 to 48 hours. Two days after this outbreak 70 persons from another group became ill with similar symptoms. This group consisted of 750 persons who attended a dance at the same tavern. An investigation revealed that all the involved persons had con sumed drinks containing ice which was prepared by the establishment from water from a private well. Two weeks prior to these outbreaks difficulty had been experienced with the sewer disposal facilities and sewage backed into a pit within 12 feet of the badly constructed well. Water from the well was found to contain a high count of B. coli. Stool specimens, obtained from 50 of the 95 patients, showed no pathogenic organisms. Stool specimens from personnel were also negative. Thus, the etiological agent could not be determined. As a precautionary measure, a mass typhoid immunization program was held because of the presence of known typhoid carriers in the area.

Dr. R. F. Feemster, Massachusetts Department of Public

Health, reports an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among 100 persons who had a testimonial dinner at a restaurant. Of these, 25 became ill with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The food was donated and brought to the restaurant by some members of the group, who prepared and served it. Of the four turkeys used, 2 were roasted in a family kitchen. The woman who roasted the 2 turkeys claimed that they appeared slimy and were not quite the right color. No information was available on food or stool specimens.

Reported in Nebraska.

These provisional data are based on reports from State and territorial health departments to the Public Health Service. They give the total number of cases of certain communicable diseases reported during the week usually ended the preceding

Saturday. When the diseases which rarely occur (cholera, dengue, plague, typhus fever-epidemic, and yellow fever) are reported, they will be noted under the table above.