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8
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The final corrected diagnoses of infectious disease cases in
this borough during 1949 was nearly 400 less than in 1948,
and the lowest for at least four years.
Diphtheria cases were the fewest for this same period, and
the decline of Scabies continued, to almost negligible proportions.
Measles figures were considerably less than in 1948,
though more than the previous year; Whooping Cough, however,
also decreased appreciably in comparison with the past
two years. There was one death each from these two latter
diseases (both un-notified cases) compared with four Measles
deaths and three from Whooping Cough in 1948.
After a lapse of Poliomyelitis last year—with only one case
following the 26 in 1947—this disease claimed 14 confirmed
cases during 1949; as in 1948, there was again one death. The
most detailed investigations were made into each case, but
there appeared to be no tangible clue as to the source of infection
or any connecting link between the cases.
During the year, one case each of suspected Anthrax and
Smallpox were notified, but fortunately neither of these was
confirmed. One case each of Food Poisoning and Paratyphoid,
and 10 of Dysentery, amongst the younger age groups, were
also confirmed, but it was not possible to define the causes
with any certainty. All manner of usually suspect foods
appeared in the reports on these cases, but rarely was there
any identical factor, and analysis of the food (when practicable
after the time lag of calhng in the doctor and receipt of the
notification) was invariably negative.
The full results of the extensive Diphtheria immunisation
propaganda of recent years are now evident in that only two
of the confirmed cases in 1949 had been previously immunised.
Both these cases were in children under five years of age.
Of the 131 confirmed Whooping Cough cases, only 23 were
patients who had been previously immunised against this
disease, and in all these instances the attacks were mild.