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and a period of internal and external peace that has remained unbroken since 1814. Coupled with the energy and pragmatism of the population, these factors have brought general advancement in material and social well-being and the creation in the present century of a comprehensive medical and social welfare system second to none.

1. Incidence of disease and causes of death

As in other developed countries of Western Europe with a high level of living, mortality is caused principally by the degenerative diseases, as is shown in the following tabulation listing the four leading causes of death in 1968:

Among the health hazards to the indigenous population of all ages, thematic and respiratory disorders have the highest incidence. Such disorders are aggravated by the relatively high humidity as well as the cold, and are particularly common in the far northern section of the country. The main communicable diseases are influenza, gonorrhea, childhood diseases, hemolytic streptococcal disease, tuberculosis, infectious hepatitis, and salmonellosis. Because of the efficient application of modern preventative and therapeutic measures throughout the country and the relatively even distribution of income, no significant differences exist in the communicable disease pattern between the urban and rural areas or among the various economic levels.

The prevalent moral and social attitudes toward sexual behavior influence the high venereal disease rates. Medical authorities acknowledge difficulties in controlling the rising incidence of gonorrhea—from 18,510 reported cases in 1960 to 34,624 cases in 1969. The government has instituted numerous control programs, including free treatment, and widespread health education through news media, lectures, publications, and study groups. Reported cases of syphilis have also increased sharply—from 88 in 1960 to 379 in 1969. Among the other reported communicable diseases, scarlet fever showed a marked decrease from 11,827 cases in 1960 to 6,371 cases in 1969. Tuberculosis has also been greatly curtailed from 4,194 cases (6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants) in 1960 to 2,321 cases (2.9 per 10,000) in 1968. Listed additionally in 1969 were salmonellosis (1,494 cases), infectious hepatitis (1,289) and meningococcal meningitis (107). Cases of influenza increased from 34,988 in 1968 to 65,679 in 1971. None of the internationally quarantinable diseases are endemic in Sweden; their importation is adequately controlled by quarantine stations in ports and international airports.

2. Animals and plants

Sweden is remarkably free of serious zoonoses. A vigilant veterinary service exercises prompt and stringent action against threats of reintroduction from countries with contagious diseases or through import of livestock products. Brucellosis has been eradicated and bovine tuberculosis all but eradicated. Anthrax is effectively controlled through vaccination, and trichinosis occurs infrequently. Tularemia appears only in certain limited areas. The principal diseases affecting the food and working animal population are actinomycosis, foot-and-mouth disease, parasitic infection, salmonellosis, swine erysipelas, and blackleg.

Few species of insects or other animal life are known or suspected to be vectors or reservoirs of disease. Mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and other biting insects appear in enormous numbers during the arctic summer. One species of mosquito (Aedes cinereous) is believed to be the chief vector of tularemia, which is harbored in rabbits and squirrels. Several species of house flies are mechanical transmitters of enteric infections, while lice are potential vectors of epidemic typhus and louse-borne relapsing fever. Numerous species of ticks in the forest areas have been incriminated in the transmission of meningoencephalitis. The brown rat, found throughout most of Sweden, may play a role in transmitting typhus. The only poisonous snake is the common European viper (Vipera Berus), found in central and southern Sweden, but death rarely occurs as the result of its bite.

Poisonous or allergenic plants grow over a wide area. The most common plants poisonous upon ingestion are wood sorrel, yellow iris, buttercup, common foxglove, monkshood, and horned poppy. Species of plants implicated in allergies include alder, birch, hazel, and sheep fescue.

3. Nutrition

The dietary level of the Swedish population is satisfactory both quantitatively and qualitatively. While there are slight variations of diet between age groups and occupations, the food intake and diet of

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3