§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health what were the ages of the 23,152 cases finally diagnosed as diphtheria in 1944 and of the 934 fatal cases; and why he can give the condition as to immunisation for only 17,088 of the 23,152 cases notified, and for only 735 out of the 934 deaths registered as due to diphtheria.
475W
§ Mr. A. BevanThe particulars referred to in the first part of the Question are as follows:
Age Group. Cases. Deaths. Under 5 … 4,171 351 5–9 … 7,200 342 10–14 … 4,417 104 15–24 … 4,306 64 25 and over … 3,058 72 Age unknown … 1 Information about immunisation is not available for all cases of diphtheria, because it is derived from returns by local authorities relating to the immunisation campaign affecting only children up to the age of 15. These returns, moreover, do not include immunisations by doctors in private practice.