COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SUMMARY 
1936 — 19^8 
North Dakota#State Department of Health 
Bismarck, North Dakota INTRODUCTION 
The tables appearing in this report have been compiled 
for the purpose of giving a general summary of the incidence 
of some of the more common communicable diseases in the State 
of North Dakota in recent years. 
These data include the average number of cases and deaths 
reported for two five-year periods from 1936 to inclusive, 
and for individual years from to inclusive. The 
death figures are provisional. 
The tables also include number of cases by months of 
occurrence. Pneumonia and influenza have been grouped together 
due to the coding on the death certificates. 
R. 0. Saxvik, M.D., 
State Health Officer CB.ICKENPOX 
No. Cases 
Bate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Bate per 100,000 
3.936-19^0* 
967 
Population 
150. h 
1.0 
Population 
.2 
19^1-19^5* 
1025 
186.0 
.8 
.1 
19^6 
308 
57.^ 
- 
0 
191*7 
553 
100.2 
- 
0 
19^8 
701 
125.2 
• 
0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
138 
9h 
93 
82 
107 
6k 
32 
13 
Ik 
75 
112 
139 
19^1-19^5* 
166 
130 
112 
93 
90 
53 
29 
11 
8 
66 
118 
lk2 
19^6 
56 
5^ 
31 
22 
28 
15 
16 
3 
8 
9 
31 
35 
19^7 
22 
2? 
6k 
53 
50 
32 
3 
6 
10 
39 
7^ 
173 
19^8 
76 
91 
73 
k9 
65 
21 
8 
6 
6 
k6 
133 
127 
DIPHTHERIA 
No. Cases 
Bate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
83 
Population 
12.9 
7 .h 
Population 
1.2 
19^+1-19^5* 
105 
19.1 
6.8 
1.2 
19^6 
Qk 
15-7 
7 
1.3 
19^7 
57 
10.3 
5 
0.9 
19^8 
33 
5.9 
6 
1.1 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb, 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 
6.2 
5.3 
6.0 
3.4 
3.4 
3.0 
8.2 
9.3 
6.1 
11.2 
10.2 
8.3 
1941-1945* 
14.2 
4.3 
5.3 
5.1 
4.0 
4.2 
7.0 
5-6 
7-8 
9.2 
15.4 22.0 
1946 
13 
12 
9 
6 
4 
1 
2 
8 
2 
13 
2 
12 
19^7 
5 
6 
7 
2 
5 
1 
5 
3 
2 
3 
9 
9 
1948 
3 
2 
3 
3 
1 
3 
2 
1 
4 
2 
8 
r 
a 
* 5-year average jj'xSiiifj-riJKi 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
5 
Population 
.8 
5 
Population 
.8 
19^1-19^5* 
8 
1.5 
1.6 
.3 
19^6 
6 
1.1 
6 
1.1 
19^7 
3^ 
6.2 
3 
0.5 
19*1-8 
59 
10.5 
1 
0.2 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 
0 
0 
0 
.2 
0 
.2 
0 
.2 
2.4 
.6 
1.0 
0 
1941-1945* 
.4 
,2 
0 
.6 
.2 
.2 
.4 
.4 
4.3 
.8 
.4 
0 
1946 
0 
4 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
19U7 
1 
0 
0 
1 
1 
8 
3 
2 
0 
1 
8 
9 
1948 
6 
14 
24 
14 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
EN CEPHALITIS 
No. Cases 
Eate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Eate per 100,000 
1936-1940* 
32 
Population 
M 
12 
Population 
1.9 
1941-1945* 
2l+3 
1+4.0 
37.^ 
6.8 
1946 
l4 
2.6 
2 
0.4 
19^7 
89 
l6.l 
13 
2.4 
1948 
35 
6.2 
5 
0.9 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
lec. 
1936-19^0* 
0 
.2 
0 
.1+ 
l.U 
1.8 
1.0 
7 A 
li+,8 
3.0 
1.2 
.'+ 
19^1-19^5* 
1.6 
1.0 
.8 
.8 
2.6 
1+.0 
63.1+ 15^-2 
8.8 
3.2 
1.1+ 
.8 
19*+6 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
.3 
2 
2 
0 
19^7 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1+1+ 
32 
7 
1+ 
2 
19^8 
l 
3 
0 
0 
1 
1 
2 
16 
5 
3 
3 
0 
* 5-year average GONORRHEA 
No. Cases 
Bate per 100,000 
No, Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
50^ 
Population 
?8. k 
2.6 
Population 
.k 
19^1-19^5* 
73.1 
- 
0 
19^6 
556 
103.7 
- 
0 
19^7 
299 
5^.2 
1 
0.2 
19^8 
205 
36.6 
_ « 
0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 
37. 
4o.o 
39.9 
44.8 
4l.4 40.6 
40.0 
39.0 
46.4 
44.8 
45.6 
44.4 
1941-1945* 
31.0 
23.u 
32.8 
26.4 
30.0 32.0 
41.6 
44.0 
40.2 
35.8 
36.6 
28.8 
1946 
96 
48 
70 
35 
38 
64 
51 
80 
42 
29 
29 
26 
19^7 
23 
30 
21 
4l 
29 
21 
16 
23 
18 
19 
19 
39 
1948 
9 
10 
15 
13 
9 
22 
12 
18 
33 
25 
14 
25 
INFLUENZA AND PNEUMONIA 
No. Cases 
Bate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Bate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
1609 
Population 
250.2 
1*80.6 
Population 
71.7 
19^1-19^5* 
U36I+ 
791.9 
275.6 
50.0 
19^6 
lhl9 
265.0 
189 
35.2 
19^7 
lh-21 
257 a 
239 
13.3 
19^8 
972 
173.6 
160 
28.6 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar, 
. Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 315.2 
136.0 
46?. £ 
5 171.2 
76.0 
72.0 
19.0 
19.0 
30.0 
35.6 
?4.0 
193.2 
1941-1945* 621.4 
406.2 
303. i 
5 283.2 
275.6 
133.2 
88.2 
102.6 
85.8 
126.0 
150.8 
173T.O 
19^6 
257 
i4o 
228 
117 
102 
85 
63 
65 
1^9 
107 
92 
114 
19^7 
22? 
147 
462 
l40 
83 
40 
20 
13 
30 
65 
51 
143 
1948 
28 
77 
133 
92 
l4l 
56 
83 
37 
75 
49 
64 
137 
* 5-year average MEASLES 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No, Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
1663 
Population 
258.7 
9 
Population 
l.k 
19^1-19^5* 
2k2J 
kko.5 
12.6 
2.3 
19^6 
239 
kk.6 
- 
0 
19^7 
l6kh 
297.8 
2 
o.h 
19^8 
1538 
27^.6 
7 
1.2 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan, 
. Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct, 
. Nov. 
Dec. 
266.8 220.8 
110.2 
t—1 
CO 
VJ1 
b 
13*1.2 
65.6 
**5.0 
10.6 
19.8 
92.0 22l*.2 
289.0 
396.0 301.8 
317.6 
218. h 
2**3.*i- 
jk.6 
85.0 
28.6 
30.0 
211.0 211.8 
' 309.2 
19^6 
1* 
6 
58 
30 
1+2 
38 
31 
5 
8 
hr 
10 
3 
19^7 
9 
10 
55 
30 
393 
183 
78 
1*0 
33 
76 
181 
556 
19**8 
208 
209 
121 
Qk 
15k 
187 
73 
25 
38 
115 
102 
222 
MENINGITIS 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
15 
Population 
2 A 
6.8 
Population 
1.1 
19^1-19^5* 
25 
k.6 
5 A 
1.0 
f 
20 
3.7 
3 
0.6 
19^7 
15 
2.7 
7 
1.3 
19^8 
22 
3.9 
7 
1.2 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
l.h 
2.h 
1.6 
1.8 
1 
.6 
1.8 
1.2 
1 
1.6 
.2 
.8 
19^1-19^5* 
3A 
3.0 
2.6 
3.j+ 
2.6 
1.0 
2.6 
1.2 
.8 
1.2 
l.k 
2.0 
19^6 
3 
k 
3 
0 
1 
2 
1 
1 
0 
2 
0 
3 
19^7 
1 
1 
2 
3 
3 
0 
1 
1 
0 
0 
0 
3 
19^8 
k 
1 
1 
0 
5 
0 
5 
0 
2 
1 
3, 
0 
* 5 - year average POLIOMYELITIS 
Uoi Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
18 
Population 
2.8 
1.2 
Population 
.2 
19^1-19^5* 
26 
1+.8 
2.2 
.1+ 
19^6 
1+92 
91.7 
28 
5*2 
19^7 
8i+ 
15.2 
2 
.1+ 
19hQ 
130 
23.2 
8 
1.1+ 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
,h 
.6 
,k 
0 
0 
.2 
1.8 2.6 
5-8 
5.2 
2.2 
1.0 
19^1-19^5* 
1.2 
.k 
.h 
.2 
0 
.h 
1.6 7.0 
7.0 
k,h 
1.8 
1.8 
19^6 
0 
1 
0 
1 
0 
2 
6l 221 
129 
50 
17 
10 
19^7 
0 
k 
6 
3 
k 
h 
16 31 
6 
3 
3 
k 
19^8 
1 
0 
0 
0 
2 
1 
6 
38 
19 
7 
7 
SCAPLET FEVER 
No, Cases 
Bate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Bate per 100,000 
Population 
Population 
1936-1940* 
1165 
181.1 
14.4 
2.2 
1941-1945* 
629 
114.2 
2 
.4 
1946 
303 
56.5 
- 
0 
19^7 
335 
60.7 
1 
0.2 
1948 
265 
3 
0.5 
Number of Cases Peported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb, 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. Pec. 
1936-19*10* 173191.2 
137 
103. *1 
98.il 51.6 
23.0 
15.8 
30.8 
86.6 123.*1 13C. 0 
191^1,191.5* 
79.2 
95.8 11*1.8 
87.*1 
5*i.2 27.*1 
12.*l 
9.h 
19.0 
30.2 
*16. *1 51.2 
19*16 
hi 
28 
71 
*ll 
3*i 
10 
7 
h 
2 
21 
19 25 
19^7 
35 
51 
65 
16 
22 
13 
12 
8 
22 
20 
30 *il 
19*18 
20 
2*1 
28 
17 
19 
*1 
7 
7 
15 
19 
*10 65 
* 5-year average SMALLPOX 
No. Cases 
Eate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Eate per 3.00,000 
1936-19^0* 
327 
Population 
50.8 
} 
1 
Population 
0.0 
19^1-19^5* 
7 
1.3 
- 
0 
19^6 
1 
.2 
- 
0 
19^7 
h 
.7 
- 
0 
19^8 
3 
.5 
- 
0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
60.i* 
39.^ 
22.8 
36.8 
32.2 26.0 
18.2 
6.k 
8.1*- 
25.9 
27.8 
22.il- 
19^1-19^5* 
.6 
0 
.6 
.8 
1.2 
1 
.8 
.2 
.2 
.4 
.k 
1.2 
19^6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
19^7 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
19^8 
0 
0 
i 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
SYPHILIS 
No. Cases 
Eate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Eate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
355 
Population 
55-3 
23 
Population 
3.6 
19^1-19^5* 
30^ 
55.1 
25. k 
U.6 
19^6 
271 
50.5 
27 
5.0 
19^7 
318 
57.6 
l6 
2.9 
19^8 
307 
5^.8 
17 
3.0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
1'ec. 
1936-1940* 
28.4 
26.0 
32.lt 
28.6 
30.0 32.6 
28.8 
28.6 
26.8 
30.8 
36.4 
31.2 
1941-1945* 
24.4 
24.6 
27.6 
21.4 
30.8 24.2 
21.8 
34.2 
23.4 
24.0 
27.2 
20.0 
1946 
35 
40 
29 
6 
15 
25 
31 
47 
36 
18 
17 
19 
19^7 
29 
45 
12 
35 
29 
35 
13 
27 
19 
28 
23 
23 
1948 
33 
30 
36 
37 
26 
21 
16 
24 
28 
19 
12 
25 
* 5-year average TUBERCULOSIS 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Eate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
283 
Population 
kk.O 
151.2 
Population 
23.5 
19^1-19^5* 
359 
65.2 
112.6 
20.1+ 
19^6 
197 
36.7 
86 
16.0 
19^7 
295 
53. ** 
83 
15.0 
19^8 
3*t6 
61.8 
59 
10.5 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 
24.4 
22.8 
26.2 
24.8 
22.0 23.0 
24.0 
22.2 
24.8 
23.2 
23. it 
22.4 
1941-1945* 
22.2 
29.4 
26.lt 
37.6 
32.6 25.6 
48.6 
40.8 
23.6 
22.2 
25.2 
25.0 
1946 
15 
10 
14 
11 
25 
22 
25 
25 
10 
17 
6 
17 
19^7 
l4 
22 
19 
2? 
21 
27 
28 
21 
4o 
29 
13 
34 
1948 
29 
28 
28 
33 
32 
26 
36 
36 
22 
22 
20 
34 
TYPHOID AND PARATYPHOID 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
ko 
Population 
6.3 
3.6 
Population 
.6 
19^1-19^5* 
16 
2.9 
.8 
.1 
19^6 
19 
3.5 
- 
0 
19U7 
8 
l.h 
3 
0.5 
19*& 
Ik 
2.5 
_ 
0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug, 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-1940* 
1.8 
1.4 
1.4 
3.6 
3.8 
3.0 
2.4 
3.8 
4.6 
8.8 
2.8 
3.0 
1941-1945* 
.8 
1.2 
.6 
1.2 
2.4 
1.6 
1.6 
2.4 
1.6 
2.0 
.2 
.6 
19^6 
0 
0 
1 
2 
3 
4 
2 
0 
2 
2 
0 
3 
19^7 
1 
1 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2 
2 
0 
0 
0 
1948 
0 
0 
0 
2 
2 
3 
1 
1 
3 
2 
0 
0 
* 5-year average UNDULAlVi? FEVFR 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Eate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
k 
Population 
.7 
Population 
0 
19^1-19^5* 
15 
2.8 
.2 
0.0 
19^6 
15 
2.8 
1 
0.2 
19^7 
6 
1.1 
2 
O.h 
19^8 
5 
.9 
0 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
.2 
.h 
A 
0 
.2 
.2 
.2 
.8 
.6 
.6 
.2 
.6 
19^1-19^5* 
.8 
1.6 
.k 
2.2 
.6 
1.6 
.6 
2.0 
1.2 
1.6 
1.0 
1.6 
19^6 
0 
l 
5 
2 
0 
1 
l 
1 
0 
2 
1 
1 
19^7 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
l 
1 
0 
1 
0 
1 
19^8 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2 
1 
0 
0 
0 
2 
WHOOPING COUGH 
No. Cases 
Rate per 100,000 
No. Deaths 
Rate per 100,000 
1936-19^0* 
759 
Population 
118.1 
21.1+ 
Population 
3-3 
19^1-19^5* 
553 
100.3 
9 
1.6 
19^6 
i+o 
7.5 
- 
- 
191*? 
1+15 
75.2 
8 
1.1+ 
19^8 
312 
55-7 
2 
0.1+ 
Number of Cases Reported by Months 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept, 
. Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
1936-19^0* 
6?.8 
hy.h 
k2.2 
U2.8 
36.0 
1*6.8 
107.8 
87.8 
89.2 
77.6 
62.6 
1*9. I* 
19^1-19^5* 
51.6 
1*0.1* 
in.8 
39-2 
U6.6 
31.0 
60,6 
69.O 
6i*.8 
1*0.1*. 
35.2 
32.2 
19^6 
k 
2 
1 
3 
3 
5 
3 
3 
9 
2 
3 
2 
19^7 
k 
2 
2 
3 
103 
10 
28 
36 
lh 
82 
69 
62 
19^8 
83 
kQ 
16 
13 
15 
21 
15 
9 
3 
31 
13 
* 5-year average AVERAGE YEARLY CASS RATES FOP COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 
NORTH DAKOTA, 1936-1940, 1941-1945 
A comparison of communicable disease cases reported during two five year 
periods shows an increase in cases of measles and diphtheria, a decrease in 
scarlet fever, whooping cough, typhoid and paratyphoid, and a very notahle 
reduction in smallpox cases. 
Case Rate per 100,000 Population 
MEASLES 
1936-1940 
1941-1943 
SCARLET FEVER 
1936-1940 
1941-1945 
WHOOPING COUGH 
1936-1940 
1941-1945 
S11ALLPOX 
1936-1940 
1941-1945 
DIPHTHERIA 
1936-1940 
1941-1945 
TYPHOID ADD 
PARATYPKOID 
1936-1940 
1941-1945 AVERAGE YEARLY DEATH RATES FOR COMMUNICABLE 
DISEASES, NORTH DAKOTA, 1936-19^®,19^1-19^5 
The death rates from communicable diseases may be compared with the 
previous chart which shows corresponding case rates. For most diseases, 
the decline in deaths has been greater than the decline in cases. 
Death Rate per 100,000 Population 
MEASLES 
1936-191+0 
19Ul-19i+5 
SCARLET FEVER 
1936-191+0 
191+1-19^ 
WHOOPING COUGH 
I936-I9LO 
I9LI-I9I+5 
SMALLPOX 
1936-19^0* 
191+1-19^5 
DIPHTHERIA 
1936-19^0 
191+1-191+5 
TYPHOID AND 
PARATYPHOID 
1936-191+0 
I9I+I-I9I+5 
* One death, rate less than 0.1 AVERAGE YEARLY CASE AND DEATH RATES FOR COMMUNICABLE 
DISEASES, NORTH DAKOTA, 1936-19^0,19^1-19^5 
A comparison of the two five year periods shows that, while there were more 
than twice as many cases of influenza and pneumonia reported in the later period, 
there were fewer deaths. This is probably due to the more effective treatment 
with new drugs during recent years. There were also more cases of tuberculosis 
reported during the later period, but fewer deaths. 
Rate per 100,000 Population 
IKFLUENZA AND PNEUMONIA 
Case 1936~19-i+0 
Rate 19^1-19^5 
Death 1936-19^0 
Rate 19^1-19^5 
TUBERCULOSIS 
Case 1936-19^0 
Rate 19^1-19^5 
Death 1936-19^0 
Rate 19ia-191+5 SEASONAL VARIATION IN COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 
AVERAGE NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED, 19kl-19k^ 
Poliomyelitis 
Diphtheria 
Rate per 100,000 Population 
Scarlet Fever 
Measles Seasonal Vai-‘ ation in Accidental Deaths 
Conflagration 
Drowning 
Agr'cultural 
Motor Vehicle