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
Orpington 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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54
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES.
General.
Two thousand and ninety-nine notifications of infectious diseases
were received during the year, compared with 484 during 1960.
The difference in the figures for these two years is mainly
accounted for by the increase in the number of cases of measles
which during 1961 amounted-to 1,847, against 139 for 1960.
This large fluctuation in cases of measles takes place in alternate
years, and tends to dominate the picture in a somewhat misleading
way. If measles is ignored, the remaining notifications show a
decrease compared with the previous year, the figures then being
252 compared with 345 in 1960.
An increase in Whooping Cough was more than offset by the
decreased incidence of Scarlet Fever, dysentery and food poisoning.
The year was again noteworthy for the complete absence of
Anterior Poliomyelitis, and, for the twelfth consecutive year, of
diphtheria. There were also no cases of Typhoid or Paratyphoid
Fever notified.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis and Vaccination.
No cases were notified. Most of the credit for our continued freedom from this complaint is undoubtedly due to the success of our immunisation scheme, and the following figures with regard to the poliomyelitis vaccination have been supplied by the County Medical Officer:—
| Priority Group. | 2nd injections. | 3rd injections. | 4th injections. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-1961 | 1,542 | 1,344 | — |
| 1946-1956 | 384 | 678 | — |
| 1943-1945 | 53 | 74 | — |
| 1933-1942 | 416 | 405 | — |
| 1921-1932 | 1,837 | 2,509 | — |
| Others | 50 | 90 | |
| School children under 12 years | — | — | 5,472 |
| Totals | 4,282 | 5,100 | 5,472 |
Diphtheria and Diphtheria Immunisation.
For the twelfth consecutive year, I am pleased to be able to
report a complete absence of this disease in the Urban District.