Un 3 mor

August 3, 1956

Provisional Information on Selected Notifiable Diseases in the United States and on Deaths in Selected Cities for Week Ended July 28, 1956

The number of poliomyelitis cases reported for the current week is 658 as compared with 1,034 for the same period last year. The proportion of paralytic cases so far in 1956 has been about 50 percent of the total as compared with about 40 percent last year. The percentage of nonparalytic cases has been about the same, and the unspecified cases have been lower, both in numbers and proportionately, this year as compared with 1955. The larger proportion of paralytic cases probably is due in part to the greater concentration of cases under 5 years of age in certain States, in which age group paralytic cases normally are proportionately greater. Reports from a few States show that the percentage of cases in the 5 to 9 year group has been smaller in 1956. This group was the first to receive poliomyelitis vaccine. The smaller number of unspecified cases indicates that more complete information is being received by States at the time cases are reported.

The numbers of reported cases of poliomyelitis by type for the United States for the current week, disease year, and calendar year are:

Since the first of the year a total of 897 cases of diphtheria has been reported in the United States. For the same period in 1955 the total was 761. The numbers of cases reported in most of the geographic divisions indicate little change in the incidence of the disease from 1955 to 1956. However, in the East North Central and the West South Central Divisions substantial increases have been reported. The East North Central States have reported 174 cases as compared with 96 for the same period last year. For the West South Central States the number rose from 161 in 1955 to 221. The South Atlantic States showed a decrease, from 203 cases for the first 30 weeks of 1955 to 179 for this year to date.

Alaska reported 29 cases of diphtheria for the current week. Two weeks ago the territory reported 6 cases, the first for 1956. No cases were reported during the first 7 months of 1955.

Histoplasmosis

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS

The Washington State Department of Health has reported a fatal case of histoplasmosis in Seattle. The patient was a 75year-old woman who had not been out of Washington since 1953 and who had never been in the midwestern States. In 1953 she complained of pains in her knees, wrists, and hands, Late in March 1956, she died from fracture. An autopsy of the patient's lungs revealed numerous yellow, irregular areas on the surface of and in the parenchyma of the right, lower lobe. Microscopic examination revealed small fungus bodies without budding or mycelia. The case was not confirmed by culture.

Human rabies

Dr. Henry A. Holle, Texas State Department of Health, has reported a case of human rabies, the third in the State for this year. The victim, a 3-year-old boy, was bitten on the right arm by a rabid dog early in June. Antirabies treatment was begun 9 days after the incident. Eight injections were given before onset of illness. No additional injections were given for fear symptoms were due to vaccine reaction. Shortly after onset of illness the child was hospitalized. He became paralyzed followed by a comatose state and died about a week later. An autopsy revealed Negri bodies in the brain tissue.

Two other children were bitten by the same dog. Both have completed a 14 injection course of treatment without complications.

Bat rabies

Dr. J. S. Palmer, Veterinary Public Health, Utah Department of Health, has provided preliminary information on a suspect case of rabies in a bat. The bat was taken to a laboratory on July 13 with a history of inflicting a lesion on a boy's finger. The attack occurred while handling the bat. Examination of a brain smear was inconclusive although suspicious of rabies. Mouse inoculation was also inconclusive. Additional laboratory tests are to be made. Rabies vaccine treatment has been started on the patient.

Chemical poisoning

The California State Department of Public Health has reported an outbreak of chemical poisoning among a group of 46 persons. Of these, 20 became ill with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from 20 to 60 minutes after a meal at which a cold drink was served. The drink was dispensed in a portable, vacuum, cadmium-lined container with the usual insert omitted. The duration of contact between liquid and metal was not stated. None of the beverage or food was examined. However, spectographic tests of scrapings from the container revealed cadmium.

Table 1. CASES OF SPECIFIED NOTIFIABLE DISEASES: CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES (Numbers after diseases are category numbers of the Sixth Revision of the International Lists, 1948)

Table 2. CASES OF SPECIFIED NOTIFIABLE DISEASES: UNITED STATES, EACH DIVISION AND STATE, ALASKA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO, FOR WEEKS ENDED JULY 30, 1955 AND JULY 28, 1956. (By place of occurrence.

Numbers under diseases are category numbers of the Sixth Revision of the International Lists, 1948)