Counting Illnesses

How often do people get sick? The U.S. Public Health Service gave an answer last week when it reported on its survey of the nation's health in the twelvemonth ended June 30, made by sending investigators to a cross-section sample of 36,000 homes in 330 areas, checking on 115,000 individuals (TIME, May 20, 1957). The findings, extended to the whole U.S. population: P: Illnesses and injuries severe enough to require medical attention or keep the victim at home totaled 437,886,000, an average of 2.6 for every American. P: The weaker sex was only slightly weaker--2.7 such illnesses, against 2.5 for men. P: Children under five had the highest illness rate, 4; oldsters over 65 had the lowest, 1.6. P: Days lost from work totaled 356,500,000; from school 273,200,000. The survey, first of its kind in 20 years, recorded a higher-than-average illness rate because the invading Asian virus boosted the incidence of influenza above normal--how much, the pollsters were not sure.

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