Page 20 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

14
SHORT NOTES

SUMMARY OF THE YEAR'S HEALTH

The Year’s Health.—-Good. No epidemics. No single case of Smallpox notified. Malaria
showed a low incidence. Venereal disease a little diminished. The winter produced a more severe
and protracted type of Pneumonia. After August the weather cooled more rapidly than usual and
in its wake a brisk incidence of Enteric occurred, sporadic, which died away in November.
The Staff.—Miss M. M. Mullally was appointed as Health Visitor and arrived in March.
Well qualified for this task, she will be invaluable for the women’s public health work. For the
first time, the full complement of British nursing staff has been realised—Miss Millson in charge of
the nursing home and operating theatre, Miss Allsop for the women’s hospital and Miss Mullally to
run the public health work.

Dr. Sayed Ahmad, M.B., B.S., arrived at the end of last year and has proved to be a good
choice.

Epidemics.—Nothing serious occurred. Despite many rumours, no Cholera cases were re­
ported. A large number of inoculations were carried out chiefly in medical staff and those concerned
with ships. For the second year no Smallpox was seen and a further 3,695 vaccinations were done.

Owing to the higher incidence of Typhoid 535 inoculations were given but chiefly to protect
our staff. Manama and Muharraq were both affected by the increase of enteric, four to six cases
being notified weekly during September and October the peak
months.
The usual run of measles, chickenpox, mumps and whooping cough occurred.
labour wages. Th!> Bahrain c-1"™ t0 ^USUfy the contro1 measures which now are costly owing to
area under surveillance and the'RAr'm * "pend‘nS ^■00° annually, the Oil Company has its own
effects each succeeding year The fim ’ ‘ndependent Sectlon' There is accumulative benefit which
infected cases in Manam 61116 thlS year 1S the lowest ever seen- J946 showed 7 -5 per cent
spraying by hand of thewh9]47*"!7 *** ^ 1948 “6 ’4 per cent* The Tuestion of mass D.D.T.
certain Mediterranean * 1 ^ ^ “ UndeF Consideration in the light of successful ventures with
?dication is not like,y- a«°p>-
from Persia The hn * « u ~ m°St dl®cidt leakage to control is the imported adult mosquito
ccmpleWy owi totH rV"1 ?*. a,™g th<= t0Wn ™ checked daily but never
emptied. Mosquitoes from tw k reeding m the wooden water tanks is common and these are
903 boats wem d«h h , * T the northern end of Manama. This year
May and June showed a 30 per «nt incide^of^ P“k da"ger°US m°n‘hS

On the recommendation of the Agricultural and Insectide research committee we *ep^ ^
our old Ross sprayers with eight modem ones, and just lately they have sent their latest pa
use on trial.

Venereal Disease.—The situation is by no means satisfactory. The incidence IS
and response to treatment good but reinfection occurs, and a systematic system of con ro i
There is every indication that strict compulsory measures will shortly come into being.

Sur^|(^| qv
particularly among Pers^ W"e carrie(1 out- Hernia was prominent

of a
Patella and spur of femur with agl^ AmonS lhe more unusual cases were-an excision
mg result, and a three stage Hypospadias operation.