Table 3. CASES OF SPECIFIED DISEASES: SELECTED CITIES FOR WEEK ENDED JULY 25, 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 JULY 25, 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 ± 2d, 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. Provisional Information on Selected Notifiable Diseases in the United States for The number of poliomyelitis cases reported for the current week is 1,630 which is 20 percent higher than the number (1,350) reported for the previous week. However, it is 29 percent below the number (2,306) for the same week last year. The cumulative total for the 1953 "disease year" is 8,348 as compared with 9,394 in 1952; and the cumulative total for the calendar year is 9,862 as compared with 10,582 for the same period last year. Five of the 9 geographic divisions reported significantly larger numbers of cases for the current week as compared with the previous week, 3 reported approximately the same number, and 1 (West South Central) reported a decrease. States reporting relatively large increases over the previous week were: New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland, Montana, Utah, and California. While North Carolina reported no increase of cases for the State as a whole, one additional county (Avery) has reported a sufficiently large number to qualify for mass immunization with gamma globulin. In Caldwell County cases were reported as follows: 26, for the week ended July 11; 31, for the week ended July 18; 8, for the following week, and 7, for the current week. In Catawba County, 21, 23, 19, and 18 cases, respectively, were reported for the same weeks. For the current week 34 of the 100 counties in the State reported 1 or more cases. In Montgomery County, Alabama, 2 cases of poliomyelitis were reported for the current week, and on August 3, a report of 4 additional cases was received. During the week ended August 1, 19 deaths from poliomyelitis were reported as follows: 1 in New Hampshire; 2 in New York City; 4 in Ohio; 1 each in Cook, Madison, Union, and Will Counties, Illinois; 5 in Minnesota; 1 each in Custer County, Montana, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, and San Diego County, California. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS Infectious hepatitis Dr. J. D. Purvis, Pennsylvania Department of Health, gives information on an outbreak of infectious hepatitis which occurred in a school. The first cases were discovered about the middle of February. Since then 376 cases have been reported with a peak of 204 appearing during April. Only 4 cases have been reported for July. Trichiniasis Dr. W. L. Halverson, Director, California Department of Public Health, reports a case of trichiniasis in a 19-year-old white man. The symptoms were generalized aches and pains, swelling of eyelids, pain on movement of eyes, and headache. Eosinophilia appeared 5 days after onset of illness. The patient, a soldier, states that while on leave in another State, he and his wife had a meal in a restaurant about 10 days prior to onset of symptoms. It is reported that he and his wife both like pork and pork products. The wife had a similar illness and was found to have 28 percent eosinophilia. The diagnosis on the husband was based on the clinical picture and the appearance of eosinophilia. Muscle biopsy was compatible although not diagnostic of trichiniasis. Gastro-enteritis Dr. Roy F. Feemster, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, reports an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among 81 persons at a camp. Of these, 60 experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 4 to 14 hours after eating creamed chicken for lunch. The gravy used in the preparation of the creamed chicken was left unrefrigerated overnight. None of the creamed chicken was available for laboratory examination. Hamburgers were served for dinner the same day but were not suspected as the vehicle of infection. Information of stool specimens obtained from food handlers and from some of the patients was not available. No history of illness or evidence of skin lesions was found among the food handlers. Dr. Halverson reports 2 outbreaks of gastro-enteritis in one county in California. The first outbreak occurred among 150 persons who attended a lodge gathering. Of these, 68 became ill from 10 to 48 hours after eating roast turkey and dressing. The turkeys were roasted for 6 hours, allowed to cool for about 4 hours, and then sliced. The meat was placed in a refrigerator until the next day, when it was removed and warmed before serving. The dressing was made by adding turkey broth to a prepared mix. Specimens were taken from the turkey and dressing but the results were not available at the time of the report. Specimens from food handlers were all negative for pathogenic organisms. The second outbreak occurred among several hundred persons who attended a picnic. Thirty persons became ill with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme stomach pains, retching, and shock from 3 to 6 hours after eating corned beef or tongue sandwiches at the picnic, or from corned beef purchased at the picnic and eaten at home. The food was unrefrigerated many hours during transportation to and at the picnic area. Laboratory tests on samples of corned beef from refrigerators of 3 persons who had taken some of the meat home, revealed the presence of Staphylo coccus aureus. Rabies in bats Dr. L. L. Parks, Florida State Board of Health, reports the confirmation of rabies in bats in Hillsborough County, Florida. Rabies infection was found in 6 of 90 bats shot. Two of the 6 were Seminole bats and 4 were yellow bats. One person is reported to have been bitten and has received antirabies vaccine. An investigation is being carried out and control measures applied. Communicable diseases in other areas A suspect case of smallpox has been reported in Tijuana, Mexico. The patient arrived in the city as a member of a circus. State and local epidemiologists are tracing movements of the circus and of the patient to determine contacts. They are having difficulties in obtaining a history and other epidemiological data in connection with this case. Mass vaccination of the population in Tijuana and surrounding areas is being carried out. No other cases have been reported as yet. The patient is now convalescing and shedding scabs are being for smallpox. THE LIBRA OF THE AMG 11 1000 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINGS |