THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF EPIDEMIC CONTAGION

Abstract

Two studies conducted in carefully selected school populations, covering 4 yrs. and 1 yr., respectively, indicated that u.-v. irradiation of school room atmospheres results in a considerable lowering of attack rates of measles, mumps and chicken-pox among susceptibles in irradiated atmospheres as compared with control groups in untreated atmospheres. The common cold was not susceptible to control probably because of its more complex epidemiological pattern involving home exposure to non-immune adults. Epidemic contagion appears to spread through the medium of confined atmospheres and can be prevented by radiant disinfection.