RESUMEN
An analysis of the available statistics of morbidity and mortality rates of the more common communicable diseases in Jamaica shows that they are responsible for one quarter of the total number of medically certified deaths. Pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, gastro-enteritis and colitis, malaria and syphilis are among the ten leading causes of death in Jamaica. The highest incidence of death due to tuberculosis is in young adults aged 25-35 years. Gonococcal infections, syphilis, malaria, measles, influenza, mumps, chicken pox, tuberculosis, typhoid and pneumonia were the leading communicable diseases reported during the years 1954-1956. Although the incidence of typhoid and tuberculosis has declined in recent years, typhoid epidemics have been reported as recently as 1955 and 1956. As many of the communicable diseases are readily preventable by modern methods of sanitation, and by available and effective immunization methods, these figures would lead us to conclude, that the decline in the incidence of these diseases in Jamaica has not kept pace with modern trends. (AU)