— 27 —
All these cases occurred among natives of the Sudan. In 1926 five of a total of 12 cases occurred in Kassala. In 1927 thirteen of a total of 16 cases occurred in Kassala. In 1928 seven of a total of 12 cases occurred in Kassala. It is interesting to note that only one case is reported from Red Sea Province, which is inhabited by the same Hamitic races which contribut the cases to Kassala Province.
This may be due to the fact that Port Sudan hospital is largely a town hospital, and deals with a smaller percentage of the non-Arabised Hamitic population.
RABIES.
No cases of this disease were reported in the s'udan before the year 1924, but the disease has now definitely established itself and appears to be on the increase. Cases of rabies in dogs or other animals occurred in Kordofan, the Nuba Mountains, Bahr-el-Ghazal, Kassala and the Red Sea Provinces. Of these, the Red Sea Province had not previously been known to be infected.
Five human cases occurred (they were all fatal). Of these cases, four came under treatment. The distribution of the cases is given below :—
Kordofan Province—Abu Zabad 1 case.
,, ,, Rahad 1 ,, ,, ,, Rashad 1 ,, Red Sea ,, Tokar 1 ,, Kassala ,, Kassala 1 ,, Sixty persons who had been bitten by, or had come into close contact with, rabid dogs received treatment with antirabic vaccine ; of these two died before
they had completed the course of treatment.
The following measures were taken to diminish the danger of further spread of the disease :—
(i) A regulation was put in force to prevent the transport of dogs by rail or steamer except on the certificate of a veterinary officer, or in his absence, of a magistrate.
(ii) Measures were taken to render more complete the destruction of homeless or uncared-for dogs.
SCURVY.
Outbreaks of scurvy occurred in the Blue Nile Province and Red Sea Province.
Blue Nile Province.
This outbreak was limited to immigrants from Wadai and the Tchad region who were working as labourers in the Gezirah irrigated area. They were livit g on dried meat, dried fish and assida (a preparation of millet) only, while the local inhabitants who were unaffected could obtain milk, merissa (native beer) and fresh meat.
The cases occurred as follows :—
Men Women August 34 2 These immigrants unlike the West Africans, only exceptionally bring their women with them. September 81 0 October 12 0
127 2