Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

A telegram was sent giving the names of those found positive; a night letter with those suspicious. A typewritten report was taken by A. J. Chesley when he left for Aurora, Sept. 10.

Inspector left Minneapolis 11:45 p. m., Sept. 6; arriving Aurora 10:30 a. m., Sept. 7. Left Aurora 6 p. m., Sept. 8; arriving Minneapolis 7. a. m., Sept. 9.

(Index No. 104-XIII.)

SUMMARY

Diphtheria, Independent District No. 13, St. Louis County, (including schools in Aurora Village, White Township, Mesaba Village and Mesaba Township, St. Louis County), September 10, 11, 12, 13, 1913.

BY DR. A. J. CHESLEY

(All investigations are made upon order from, or with the approval of the Executive Officer of the State Board of Health.)

Reason To take cultures from persons absent from school; and of those reported as "positive"; "suspicious" or "unsatisfactory"; in former investigation.

History Upon receipt of telegram giving names of families with "positives," the health officer had excluded children from school and confined them to their premises, rigid quarantine of the whole family being the penalty for disobedience of this order. Inspector, with Dr. R. P. Pearsall, took cultures from persons mentioned above in Aurora village and White township, which are under Dr. Pearsall's supervision on Sept. 11 and delivered these cultures to Dr. T. R. Martin at the Duluth Branch Laboratory, 11 p. m., Sept. 11. Returning 10:30 a. m., Sept. 12, took cultures from others in Aurora and with Dr. Darrow took cultures from classes in Mesaba village and Mesaba township, which are under Dr. Darrow's supervision. Then attended a meeting of the School Board at the Hearding High School.

Results-All members of the School Board were present, also Supt. DeWitt Adkins and Dr. Pearsall. The situation was discussed thoroughly and the Board unanimously voted to employ a School Nurse in cooperation with the sanitary districts concerned. Cultures were reported by Dr. Martin on Sept. 13; a nurse was found in Minneapolis and sent to Aurora, Sept. 16.

Inspector left Minneapolis 11:45 p. m., Sept. 10; arriving Aurora 10:30 a. m. Left Aurora 6 p. m., arriving Duluth 11 p. m., Sept. 11. Left Duluth 7 a. m.; arriving Aurora 10:30 a. m. Left Aurora 6 p. m., Sept. 12, arriving Minneapolis 7 a. m., Sept. 13, 1913.

(Index No. 45-XIII.)

SUMMARY

Diphtheria, Lake City, Wabasha County, April 30-May 1, 1913

BY DRS. H. A. BURNS AND A. J. CHESLEY

(All investigations are made upon order from, or with the approval of the Executive Officer of the State Board of Health.)

Reason-To culture exposed persons in schools and elsewhere.

History -Several mild cases of diphtheria among school children developed at about the same time. Health Officer traced source of infection to supposed carrier, R. T., in whose family there were six boarders, four being recent immigrants from Sweden. Six persons had been quarantined for diphtheria, having positive cultures, as follows:

Apr. 26, G. C.; Apr. 27, G. B.; Apr. 28, G. A.; Apr. 29, G. C. W., A. W.; Apr. 30, C. N. R. T., suspected carrier was found positive Apr. 30.

Inspectors, with Dr. E. H. Bayley, H. O., took cultures in public schools and elsewhere from 507 individuals.

Results Upon examination May 2, 13 persons showed diphtheria bacilli; 2 showed suspicions bacilli and on 3 diagnosis was reserved on account of spore bacilli. One immigrant (G. L.) had sore throat en route to Lake City. Culture positive May 2. Many shipmates had sore throats. In the same household Mrs. A. T. and J. L. were positive May 2. Prompt action by Health Officer prevented serious spread of the disease. He had notified by hand-bills, every family represented in school, to have children present for culture taking. Local physicians co-operated with H. O. to mutual advantage.

Note-Subsequent cultures were taken May 4, by Dr. Burns and later by Dr. Bayley. Inspectors left Minneapolis 6:45 p. m.; arriving Lake City 9:10 p. m., April 30; left Lake City 1:30 p. m.; arriving Minneapolis 4 p. m., May 1, 1913.

(Index No. 130-XIII.)

SUMMARY

Diphtheria, Antrim Township, (Lewisville), Watonwan County, October 17, 1913

BY DR. H. A. BURNS

(All investigations are made upon order from, or with the approval of the Executive Officer of the State Board of Health.)

Reason-To take cultures of pupils, teachers and others of Dist. No. 55, Lewisville school.

History-Diphtheria developed in family of E. W., after moving to Lewisville in June and in others as follows:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

At the request of Inspector, Dr. McCarthy notified the President of School Board, Oct. 16, to have all children at school Oct. 17, unless there was sickness in the family.

Inspector, aided by Dr. J. E. McCarthy, of Madelia, acting for Antrim township Board of Health, took cultures of 44 pupils and 3 teachers; 22 pupils were absent because the President of the School Board had not notified pupils to attend school as requested.

t

Results Advised President of School Board to continue school, but to admit no person withou a negative culture report. Advised Board of Health to order all "positive" persons show. ing no symptoms to remain at home; to quarantine all "positive" persons showing symp toms. Oct. 18 Laboratory Division reported diphtheria bacilli present in cultures of 7 pupils and 1 teacher and advised Dr. McCarthy to send cultures to Mankato Branch Laboratory.

[blocks in formation]

Diphtheria, Antrim Township, (Lewisville), Watonwan County, December 7, 8, 1913 BY DR. H. A. BURNS

(All investigations are made upon order from, or with the approval of the Executive Officer of the State Board of Health.)

Reason-To take cultures upon opening of Dist. School No. 22.

History-E. W. family moving to Chaska in June lived over the village meat market were the first reported. (See Summary No. 130-XIII). Cultures were taken of pupils Oct. 17 and school closed Oct. 20-27, contrary to advice given; after three weeks, diphtheria was as prevalent as before. Through fear of losing State Aid and because the country people were not coming to Lewisville to do Christmas trading, some of the villagers wanted the schools opened in order to restore public confidence.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

*A. B., teacher, went to Fairmont Sept. 26, called upon Dr. J. because of sore throat. No cultures were taken. Went home, Sept. 29, Windom, and called upon Dr. W. at once, because of sore throat and previous association with positive school cases. Called again Wednesday, Sept. 21, for second treatment, no cultures were taken from her until mass cultures were taken in Lewisville School, Oct. 17, when she was found to be positive.

Inspector took cultures of all those present at school. No effort had been made to have pupils present as promised and 42 of the 66 pupils were absent. Cultures were taken from school children who were quarantined.

Results Met with School Board Dec. 7, advised against the closing of school and showed the loss already sustained without results, because of such action. Advised prompt reporting and isolation of suspicious cases in the future.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

LIST OF INVESTIGATIONS.

Scarlet Fever, Measles.

Twenty-nine epidemiological investigations of scarlet fever and measles were made during the period Aug. 1, 1912 to Jan. 1, 1914, in twenty-one counties. The field work required fifty-four days.

[blocks in formation]

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ROCHESTER MEASLES EPIDEMIC. Prepared by Drs. H. A. Burns and W. P. Greene From the Records of Dr. Harold B. Wood, Deputy Health Officer.

The study of the epidemic of measles at Rochester, Olmsted county, from Jan. 1, to July 1, 1913, illustrates the importance of thorough cooperation between school officials and the local health officer. The best of advice from a trained epidemiologist may fail to check an outbreak, simply because school officials will not follow out the directions of the health officer to the letter, from the start. Measles should not be regarded as inevitable and harmless, but as dangerous. The importance of controlling measles, as well as the other communicable diseases, is beginning to be recognized by the public.

C-Dr. A. J. Chesley.
G-Dr. W. P. Greene.
L-Dr. H. G. Lampson.

B-Dr. H. A. Burns.
W-Dr. H. B. Wood.
M-Dr. I. J. Murphy.

Prior to March 20, only six cases developed in school children. These cases did not attend school after the first symptoms developed and, therefore, school exposure did not occur. On March 20, five children with prodromes were found in four school-rooms. The health officer advise closing these rooms and keeping all children under observation who never had had measles. This advice was not followed, with the result that fourteen new cases of measles were discovered in school on April 22 and 23. At this. time, it was impossible for the health department to protect the well children from those suffering from prodromes because there had been complete exposure in three schools. The school officials were now anxious to cooperate with the health officer and were willing to follow his instructions. However, the measures taken did not prove effectual because they were not instituted until after the exposure had taken place. The timely control of these five early school cases would have obviated the necessity of tracing and controlling 101 secondary cases, to whom infection was spread.

Measles continued to be a cause of absence from school for three and a half months. Thirty-three of the 52 children originally infected from five school-mates, lost 190 school days. The school time lost was recorded in 154 cases as 1514 days, or 9.8 days for each pupil ill. Eleven school cases gave a history of having had a previous attack of measles.

Out of 168 cases of measles in which prodromes were tabulated, the cough was the initial symptom in 90 cases or 53 per cent and developed on an average of 2.5 days before the rash. This indicated that infected pupils attended school at least two days before the disease was recognized by teachers or health officer. In 32 cases, or 19 per cent the rash was the first symptom noticed. The remaining prodromes, i. e., sore throat, red eyes, vomiting, epistaxis, headache, fever, etc., were noted among a small number of cases to appear in from 1 to 4.8 days before the rash.

The failure to comply promptly with Dr. Wood's recommendations for the control of this epidemic resulted in 12 babies, one year of age or less, contracting the disease, two of whom died, one with symptoms of meningeal irritation; the other as the result of a cervical abscess.

Of a total of 353 cases of measles occurring in 115 homes, 242 were found through the efforts of Dr. Wood; 116 were reported by physicians; 51 by parents and 17 by teachers. Twelve hundred twenty-four (1,224) pupils from 6 to 20 years old attend school in Rochester and 203 or 161⁄2 per cent contracted measles during this epidemic. Of 154 cases reported among school children, 52 cases were traced directly to the exposure from the 5 early cases in school. The source of infection could not be definitely determined in 102 cases. Forty-two cases at home were infected by older brothers and sisters who caught measles from the 5 early cases in school.

This epidemic shows that attention must be paid to the following: First-Education of the public that measles is a dangerous disease and must be cared for as carefully as scarlet fever.

Second Medical inspection of schools and early isolation of pupils having suspicious symptoms, to prevent epidemics.

Third-A Disease Census of school children for reference, to determine which children have had measles previously and which have not.

Fourth-Co-operation between the Health Officer and school officials and the citizens.

« ForrigeFortsett »