Arkham Beach Health Board Guards Against Scarlet Fever Cases
Arkham Beach (May 18) — Six cases of scarlet fever among the school children of Arkham Beach last week, all from the same schoolroom, aroused fears of an epidemic, which are allayed by the following statement by the school physicians.
Statement
While six cases of scarlet fever have been reported among school children, other places such as Waltham, Lowell, Arlington, Lexington and Newton have many more. We may feel that we are fortunate to have so few cases in Arkham Beach, and also feel that there is no cause for alarm. The present cases are mild and were all from a single schoolroom. All pupils in that room and all who had contact with it have been excluded from school
Miss Mae Dennis, the School Nurse, called by phone or visited the parents of all these children on Saturday and Sunday. She advised parents to keep the children at home, away from all gatherings and from anyone who has not had scarlet fever. They returned to school on Monday, May 16. The teacher of the grade where cases were found has also been been excluded and isolated with the same precaution as the children because she has not had scarlet fever.
Other grades are isolated at play, and all grades are inspected daily by school physicians and the school nurse.
We urge that parents send other children to school, as there is less danger, and those who are there will be discovered much more quickly by school inspection than if permitted to run around the streets, or at "movies" where they expose others to the disease.
Interested parents can obtain information as to location of actual cases by calling the local Board of Health.
All group activities at the Peter Balkeley School have been discontinued during the quarantine period.
Preventative Measures
Isolate doubtful cases until diagnosis is definite; diagnosis is often difficult.
Co-operaton of parents in isolating cases until diagnosis is made, and also in notifying school nurse, will help in the effort to prevent further spread of the disease.
Charles W Hutchinson,, M. D.
John Dennis Slieelian, M. D.
Thu May 17, 2012 6:38 pm