§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health how many cases originally notified as diphtheria in 1945 and 1946 were subsequently rediagnosed; and whether these included any fatal cases.
§ Mr. BevanIn 1945 6,650 cases and in 1946 6,297 cases originally notified as diphtheria were subsequently diagnosed as suffering from some other disease; it is not known whether any of these cases proved fatal.
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§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health what were the ages of the cases of diphtheria recorded in 1946 and of the fatal cases; and how many had been immunised in each age class of the cases and deaths in 1946.
§ Mr. BevanThe answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:
ENGLAND AND WALES Diphtheria 1946. — Notifications* Deaths. Aged 0- 161 23 1- 848 85 3- 1,362 84 5- 3,460 126 10- 2,122 43 15- 2,157 41 25 and over 1,787 70 Age unknown 70 — Total 11,967 472 * Figures are final (i.e., after correction for re-diagnosis) Information in the form referred to in the second part of the Question is not available. But figures obtained from local authorities about immunisation show that of 7,719 of the children under 15 notified as suffering from diphtheria in 1946, 2,723 had been immunised, and that of 325 of those who died from diphtheria 15 only had been immunised.