2.
6. Because of the number of diseases involved and the comparative rarity of complete laboratory examinations epidemiologists are of opinion that dysentery should not ordinarily be included in the list of notifiable diseases. It is not a notifiable disease under the International Sanitary Convention and it is not notifiable in India in Malaya or in Hong Kong.
7. Because the term covers such a number of diseases the
nature of which cannot be determined without careful
laboratory examination enquiry into a "dysentery" epidemic entails much more work of an analytical and deductive nature than an enquiry into an epidemic produced by one specific organism such as typhoid or diphtheria. In each case of dysentery the cause of the symptoms must be ascertained after which the cases have to be grouped and finally by a process of analysis and deduction an attempt made to trace the source of infection.
8. The present outbreak commenced on the 7th or 8th
instant. As with most outbreaks there was no reason at tac commencement to suppose that it would assume alarming
proportions.
9. No reports having been received from private hospitals or private sources it was not until the 13th that suspicion was aroused that the cases might be due to a common origin. On that date there was a conference in the head office attended by the Director of Hedical Services, the Deputy Director of Medical Services and the Health Officers and a
scheme of enquiry elaborated. The question of notification was discussed and it was decided that no useful purpose would be served by making 'dysentery' compulsorily notifiable but that the Health Officers should approach the private practitioners in an endeavour to ascertain where the cases
were occurring and obtain information with regard to possible
sources of infection.
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