Finally Getting Control of Typhoid In North Carolina, 1934

“Typhoid Fever Has Been Greatly Reduced,” from the Rocky Mount Herald, Friday, June 15, 1934

It is only occasionally that we take time to attempt to inform the public of changes which have taken place over a period of time. To most of us changes are so gradual, so non-interesting, that the average person is not impressed, though the significance may be far reaching.

In checking our records of deaths from typhoid fever we find that in 1892 when Raleigh had a population of 12,870, there were 23 deaths from the disease, 10 white and 13 colored. That was the peak year of typhoid fever deaths in the City of Raleigh, according to death certificates filed since 1887. According to the estimate of a few years ago that 10 cases occurred to every one death, this means that there were probably 230 cases of typhoid fever in Raleigh for that year. At the present time it is estimated that only about seven cases occur to one death, but perhaps 10 is more accurate for the year 1892.

The next peak year occurred in 1907 with 20 deaths, 10 white and 10 colored, when the population of Raleigh was 17,549. This means that no so many years ago there must have been 200 cases of typhoid fever in Raleigh in one year. In 1914 there was another peak year with 13 deaths, 7 white and 6 colored, the population of Raleigh being 21,298. After that year there was a rapid decline until 1918 when not a single death occurred in the City of Raleigh from typhoid fever. But that was too good a record to maintain, but since that time there has not occurred in any one year more than six deaths, and in 1931 there was only one.

In the State of North Carolina in 1914 there were 839 deaths from typhoid fever; in 1932 there were 158; and the provisional figures for 1033 give only 129 deaths for that year. In the United States a recent report from 87 cities for 1910, with a total population of 22,500,000, shows that there were 4,637 deaths from typhoid fever in that year, or a rate of 20.54 per 100,000.

The public holds in its hands the control measures to eradicate typhoid fever, and from these figures it appears that these measures are being reasonably used. What are they? Very simple. Safe water supply, some approved type of sewage disposal, screens to keep out flies and other insects, safe wholesome milk, the control of food handlers who may be carriers, and typhoid fever vaccine.

Typhoid vaccine is worth all that authorities have claimed for it, but it stands to reason that it is impossible to vaccinate everybody. So to control typhoid fever we must improve our sanitary conditions and food supply. These things combined will eventually eradicate typhoid fever.