§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria were recorded in England and Wales in 1945; how many of these proved fatal; what were the ages of the cases and deaths; and how many of the cases and deaths had been immunised.
§ Mr. Bevan:The number of cases of diphtheria notified in 1945 was 18,571. The number of deaths notified in 1945 was 720 this figure being provisional. The ages of the cases notified and of the deaths were as follow:
— Notifications. Deaths. Aged 0— … 188 18 1— … 1,086 113 3— … 2,001 120 5— … 5,948 257 10— … 3,467 74 15— … 3,330 45 25 and over 2,421 93 Unknown … 130 0 18,571 720 Information about cases of and deaths from diphtheria in relation to immunised children for the year 1945 is not yet available.