London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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16
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1956
Sonne Dysentery
Systematic follow-up of all cases of Dysentery continued throughout
the year and where it was considered necessary, stool specimens
were obtained from family contacts for bacteriological examination.
In addition to the cases for which formal notifications were received
and which, in the main, were single unrelated cases, a number
of other cases were discovered by investigation of diarrhoea outbreaks
which occurred at Day Nurseries and Schools.
given below. The first outbreak mentioned was confined to one area but included pupils from a number of schools.
| Date | Outbreak | No. of cases discovered | No. of specimens examined from cases and contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 1 | 54 | 240 |
| March | 2 | 70 | 361 |
| March | 3 | 20 | 149 |
| April | 4 | 26 | 218 |
| April | 5 | 25 | 263 |
| April | 6 | 49 | 284 |
| April | 7 | 16 | 127 |
| May | 8 | 29 | 147 |
| June | 9 | 82 | 297 |
| July | 10 | 58 | 350 |
| November | 11 | 7 | 55 |
Influenza
The number of deaths from Influenza was 30 compared with
30 in 1955, 23 in 1954 and 64 in 1953.
Influenzal Pneumonia and Acute Primary Pneumonia
These are the notifiable forms of pneumonia.
One hundred and thirty-five cases of acute influenzal pneumonia
and 220 cases of acute primary pneumonia were notified. Fifteen
of the former, and 38 of the latter died.
The total number of deaths credited to all forms of pneumonia
during the year was 231, compared with 251 in 1955.