Page 135 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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It would be misleading to compare these figures with those of last year as the system of
enumeration used has since been changed but it was considered that the number of breeding
places this year had increased three-fold. This was due to the abnormal rainfall, greatly
increased domestic water consumption without efficient counter drainage, and neglect in the
upkeep of date gardens which apparently arc now no longer an economic proposition. In an
effort to obtain local assistance in controlling this problem, notices were issued to persons
concerned and from the following table it will be seen that garden owners were most unco-opcr-
ativc. It was therefore necessary for the Anti-Malaria section to undertake this additional
work :—

No. of Notices Action No action
Area. issued. taken. taken.
Manama Town .. 137 99 38
Gardens 248 26 222

Malaria was made a notifiable disease during the year and the number of eases reported
for the period 20th March to 31st December, 1954, was as follows :—
Malaria B.T. 293
;
Malaria M.T. 60 r
Malaria Clinical 1399

The following statistics presented by the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited for the past
two years show that there was only a slight increase in the incidence of the disease this year
and this was regarded as being satisfactory in view of the increased number of breeding places.

Government Area Bapco Area R.A.F. Area
Year No. of No. of No. of No.of No. of No. of Total No.
Employees Cases % Employees Cases % Employees Cases % of Cases %

1953 4366 84 1.92 1682 84 5 347 7 2.01 175 2.77
1954 4742 79 1.67 1306 108 8.27 347 10 2.88 197 3.08

During the year an Anti-Malaria Laboratory was opened for the study of the quality and
quantity of Malaria in the State. Investigations arc at present confined to the entomological
side with a view to enumerating and identifying the Malaria carrying species of Anopheles
mosquitoes. The results of these identifications has established the presence of the five follow­
ing important vectors :

No. of Larvae :
■
Examined Results of Identification.
Stephens 1 Pulchcrrimus Fluvialilis Hycranus Sergenti
1491 1140 289 43 13 6

School Medical Service (Boys). Three new schools were opened in Zallaq, Askar and
Jau during the year. This brought the total number of schools in Town and Country to 22
and the number of pupils to 5243. Each school was visited once weekly by the school doctor
who treated all sick cases and arranged with the teachers to continue the treatment of minor
conditions in between his visits. In addition the doctor examined all new pupils recording
defects found in the individual's medical card and carried out a complete vaccination of all
students.