London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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46
remembered that these red cards are only sent when there has been a case of measles in a classroom,
and then only to the homes of children who have been exposed to infection, and who have not previously
suffered. The information received from the teacher is set out on the form of analysis for each school. To
take a concrete example, the occurrence of four cases of measles in three classrooms at Atley-road came
to light on 2nd June. The knowledge that only 18 per cent, of the children had not already had
measles showed that it was safe to assume that no spread would take place and that therefore no action
was necessary.

ATLEY-ROAD SCHOOL—INFANTS' DEPARTMENT.

Classroom.Age.Date of Analysis, 2.6.08.Date of Analysis. (Completion of Outbreak.)
Cases.Last Attendance.Total.Cases.Last Attendance.Total.
C.5113.5219.63
53—Measles.11—0.126.5
B 56—Measles.12—0.5122.51110.72
D.58—Measles.16—0.4126.51229.53

Analysis sheet of measles outbreak at Atley-road—No exclusions.
At Leipsic-road on 20th May it became apparent from the analysis sheet below that the children
under five were threatened with an outbreak of measles since34 per cent., 24 out of 69, had not previously
suffered. The unprotected children were therefore excluded for a short time.

LEIPSIC-ROAD SCHOOL—INFANTS' DEPARTMENT.

Classroom.Age.Date of Analysis, 20.5.08.Date of Analysis, (Completion of Outbreak.)
Cases.Last Attendance.Total.Cases.Last Attendance.Total.
13.... ...4.516.56115.59
45—Measles.214.5218.5
24—0.215.5
118.5
Unprotected children in this room 1.6.08—excludeduntil notified.
0.5___114.53
42—Measles.115.5
9—0.126.5
D.7___39.64
54—Measles. 10—0.110.6

Analysis sheet of measles outbreak at Leipsic-road—Unprotected children in Room B excluded for 12 days.
Unfortunately, when closure takes place, all subsequent events pass out of knowledge, and the
control of the outbreak by home visiting and advice on the part of the local medical officer of health
ceases. School remains the one channel of information concerning measles, and in absence of school
attendance the control over the death rate which knowledge gives is lost.
At St. George's-row School, Westminster, on the other hand, it was known on 16th May that a
case had occurred in the babies' room, but as the particulars with regard to previous history were
not forthcoming, no action could justifiably be taken ; had it been certain that a large proportion of the
children were unprotected, closure of Class B until the end of the month would have saved the occurrence
of some of the second crop and also have prevented the sj)read to other less susceptible classes.