Leeds Mercury – Tuesday 22 November 1938

Parents Warned at Wombwell
Diphtheria Infection Dangers

A complaint that children kept away from school because of the danger of infection were being allowed to run about among other children, was made at a meeting of the Wombwell Education Committee to-night.

The school nurse said scabies was prevalent in the district, and ten cases of diphtheria from the village of Jump had been taken to hospital. One child, not of school age, had died.

She said she was afraid parents were not taking proper precautions, and children kept away from school were being allowed run about.

The chairman, Mr. H. Hallsworth, said was important that children kept away from school because of infection should not allowed to go to Sunday schools or picture houses. Otherwise they might as well be at school.

In reply to the Chairman, the nurse said that not one of those who had contracted diphtheria had had immunisation treatment. Some of the immunised ones had had sore throats, but not diphtheria.