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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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15
INFECTIVE DISEASES
Poliomyelitis
Seventy-three cases of this disease were reported and investigated
during the year, compared to 65 in the previous year.
In 56 cases the diagnosis was not confirmed. Of the remaining 17
confirmed cases, 13 were of the paralytic type and four non-paralytic.
One death occurred, in a male aged two years.
Main incidence of the cases occurred in the months of July to
September.
The figures of poliomyelitis from 1947 to 1959, the period during which the incidence of the disease in this country has been high, is shown in the following table:—
| 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of cases reported as suspected poliomyelitis and investigated | 119 | 31 | 89 | 71 | 29 | 73 | 73 | 41 | 104 | 85 | 147 | 65 | 73 |
| No. of cases confirmed | |||||||||||||
| (a) paralytic | 78 | 15 | 58 | 40 | 4 | 23 | 19 | 5 | 22 | 24 | 43 | 11 | 13 |
| (b) non- paralytic | 7 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 27 | 15 | 28 | 9 | 4 | ||||
| Deaths | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | — | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Meningococcal Infection
Eight confirmed cases were notified, none of which proved fatal.
Fifteen other cases were investigated but these were subsequently
not confirmed.
In addition, one death, actually occurring outside the borough, of
a Wandsworth resident, was allocated to Wandsworth by the
Registrar General.
In 1958 there were 13 confirmed cases with no deaths.
Acute Encephalitis
Of 11 cases reported, one was confirmed as acute lymphocytic
meningitis (acute infective encephalitis) and four as post-infectious
encephalitis. Total five cases for this year.
Three of these cases related to patients resident outside the
borough, but notified by hospitals in the borough and included in the
weekly returns to the Registrar General's Office in accordance with
the regulations.
The remaining six cases investigated were not confirmed.
No deaths occurred.