Health Department Threatening Drastic Action to Keep Smallpox Under Control, May 20, 1923

Smallpox Appears to be Increasing. . . Officials Believe Cases Being Concealed—Will Take Drastic Action

With the appearance of six new cases of smallpox in the city and county during the past week, the Durham health department is making every effort to prevent what might develop into a distinct outbreak. Two of the cases reported last week were of white persons. Immediately after diagnosing the cases, health department officials vaccinated a number of persons who were known or believed to have come in contact with the victims.

“We have reason to believe that there are one or two persons in the county trying to conceal cases of smallpox,” Dr. J.H. Epperson, superintendent of the health department, declared Saturday. “If this is found to be true, the department of health shall take severe action against these persons.”

It is again pointed out by Dr. Epperson that smallpox is a quarantinable disease since action to this effect was taken several weeks ago by the board of health, and that all persons living in the same dwelling with a victim must either be vaccinated or go into quarantine. As yet, however, the department has not found anyone who prefers isolation to vaccination. Dr. Epperson states that the department is prepared to take drastic action to prevent the spread of the disease. Reports from other North Carolina towns and cities show that smallpox has been prevalent during the past three or four months. It is thought that the cases in this county may have been contracted from persons migrating here from other places.

Other Diseases

Records for the past week show that measles is much less prevalent now than at any time during the past two months or more. Last week only 84 cases were reported to the department. Nineteen cases of whooping cough appeared in various sections of the city and county. Typhoid fever has made its appearance only several times this spring, one case having been reported this past week. Other communicable diseases reported were: tuberculosis, 1; chickenpox, 6; and social diseases 9. (social diseases are venereal diseases)

From the local front of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, May 20, 1923