Infective Hepatitis

This disease proved the commonest medical condition responsible for hospital admissions during the winter of 1943–44. Three hundred and ninety-five cases were evacuated from the Division from December 1943 to March 1944, inclusive, the incidence being much higher in 6 Infantry Brigade and much less in the Maori Battalion. Similar incidences in the reinforcements and in the long-service groups seemed to show that no immunity had been developed by troops during the previous epidemics. However, at 2 General Hospital no patient was found who had had a previous attack, this showing that immunity was present following a definite attack of the disease. The cases were not of such severity as in the previous year in Egypt and there were fewer relapses. The average case was lost to his unit for at least six to eight weeks.