Table 3. CASES OF SPECIFIED DISEASES: SELECTED CITIES FOR WEEK ENDED MAY 16, 1953 (Numbers after diseases are category numbers of the Sixth Revision of the International Lists, 1948) Table 3. CASES OF SPECIFIED DISEASES: SELECTED CITIES FOR WEEK ENDED MAY 16, 1953-Continued (Numbers after diseases are category numbers of the Sixth Revision of the International Lists, 1948) The chart shows the number of deaths reported for 106 major cities of the United States by week for the current year, and, for comparison, the median of the number of deaths reported for the corresponding weeks of the three previous calendar years. (The median is the central one of the three values arranged in order of magnitude.) If a report is not received from a city in time to be included in the total for the current week, an estimate is made to maintain comparability for graphic presentation. The figures reported represent the number of death certifi cates received in the vital statistics offices during the week indicated, for deaths occurring in that city. Figures compiled in this way, by week of receipt, usually approximate closely the number of deaths occurring during the week. However, differences are to be expected because of variations in the interval. between death and receipt of the certificate. While week-to-week changes in the total number of deaths reported for all major cities generally represent a change in mortality conditions, this may not be true for variations in weekly figures for each city. For example, in a city where 50 deaths are the weekly average, the number of deaths occurring in a week may be expected to vary by chance alone from 36 to 64 (d ± 2Vd, where d represents the average number of deaths per week). The number of deaths in cities of the same size may also differ because of variations in the age, race, and sex composition of their populations, and because some cities are hospital centers serving the surrounding areas. Changes from year to year in the number of deaths may be due in part to population increases or decreases. M891 Morbidity and Mortality Report Washington 25, D. C. May 29, 1953 Vol. 2, No. 20 Provisional Information on Selected Notifiable Diseases in the United States for There were no significant changes in the incidence of poliomyelitis for the current week, except in Texas, where 39 cases were reported as compared with 24 and 17 for the previous 2 weeks, respectively. For the corresponding week last year, Texas reported 40 cases. The cumulative total for the country as a whole since the beginning of the "disease year," which began with the week ended April 11, is 791 cases as compared with 582 for the corresponding period of 1952. Smallpox EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS Dr. E. A. Rogers, Nebraska Department of Health, gives epidemiological information on the 11 cases of smallpox reported since the first week of April. In addition, 2 suspicious cases were investigated. The cases have occurred in 5 different areas in the eastern part of the State. In one instance, 4 cases occurred in 1 family. Eight of the cases were mild and 5 were moderately severe. In general, the symptoms and nature of the eruptions were not such that the cases could be definitely diagnosed as smallpox. Some differences in medical opinion exist as to the diagnosis. Cases have occurred in both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. Chickenpox cases have also been occurring in the community. Laboratory results of blood specimens from 4 patients were negative, and from 2, they were positive to complement fixation tests. One egg embryo gave a growth not yet identified and 1 gave negative results. The Paul's test for 2 patients gave positive results clinically but cytological confirmation is indefinite. This test for two other individuals gave negative results. It has been estimated that 10,000 persons have been vaccinated during recent weeks. Dr. W. L. Halverson, California Director of Public Health, gives additional information on the suspect case of smallpox in a Mexican National. The following tests were negative: two passages in eggs, the Paul's test, and syphilis serology. Dr. D. W. McEnery, Wyoming Department of Public Health, reports a case of smallpox in a 4-year-old white girl, who lives in Rock Springs. Psittacosis Dr. R. H. Heeren, Iowa Department of Health, reports 5 human cases of psittacosis in widely separated areas. However, the source of infection was traced to parakeets, all purchased in the same city. In general, the clinical symptoms were fever, chills, headache, anorexia, and a slightly productive cough. A few patients complained of having influenza. Two of the cases were in a man and his wife who were in the parakeet breeding business. The most recent purchase of breeding stock was 3 1/2 months prior to illness of the patients. At the time of their illness they owned about 30 birds. Two or 3 birds had died, and those remaining were destroyed when they were suspected as being the cause of the human illness. Another of these cases was in a daughter of the first patients. She was a frequent visitor in her parents' home. The other 2 cases were not associated with the first 3, but had contact with parakeets which were purchased in the same city as those connected with the first cases. None of the parakeets were available for virus studies. The disease was confirmed by complement fixation tests made at the State Hygienic Laboratory and at Hooper Foundation in California. Dr. John R. Pate, District of Columbia Department of Health, gives additional information on the psittacosis which appeared in this report last week. The laboratory report from the National Institutes of Health shows that the patient was ill with psittacosis. Dr. J. R. Amos, Missouri Department of Health and Welfare, reports a case of psittacosis in a white man, aged 80. The diagnosis was confirmed by a rise in the complement fixation titer, from 1:2 to 1:32. The patient's wife had purchased several parakeets 11 days prior to the onset of his illness. Two of the birds became sick and died. Dr. C. C. Croft, Ohio Department of Health, reports the isolation of psittacosis virus from a parakeet. The bird, which died after arrival, was one of a shipment received from a source outside the State. Leptospirosis in animals Dr. W. R. Giedt, Washington State Department of Health, reports that during the past few months leptospiral infections in cattle have been discovered in at least 5 counties by the State Department of Agriculture. A species of leptospira L. pomona, previously unknown in this State, has been found to be the cause of the disease. Blood specimens have been examined from a number of cattlemen who have been exposed to the infected cows, but to date none have been found to be positive. No human cases as yet have been reported in the State. Salmonellosis Dr. H. M. Erickson, Oregon State Board of Health, reports an outbreak of salmonellosis involving 3 persons in a private family. The suspected vehicle of infection was inadequately refrigerated warmed-over turkey. No connection has been traced as yet between these cases and 4 cases of bacillary dysentery which were reported for the same week but not from the same area. No other information was given. Dr. Mason Romaine, Virginia Department of Health, reports an outbreak of salmonellosis among infants in a hospital. The first case was reported early in March 1953, and since that time 13 additional cases have appeared. Following the second case,an investigation of the hospital personnel was made and stool cultures were negative. However, it was found that a piece of equipment used in the nursery was not sterilized between its use on different babies. Swab cultures from this gave positive results for salmonella organisms. This situation was corrected but 3 weeks later new cases began to appear. At this time it was discovered that stool cultures were not collected from all the personnel. Stool cultures were requested from the rest of the personnel and a positive culture was received. This culture was sent to the State Laboratory where the strain was identified as S. javiana. Since this strain was different from that found in the infants, a more extensive investigation is now being conducted to determine the true source of infection. |