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42
The year 1951, on the whole, showed a higher incidence of infectious
disease than 1950. The number of cases of measles was 2,985 as compared
with 1,468 the previous year. Whooping cough cases numbered 1,026 as
compared with 1,121 in the year 1950.
(a) Smallpox.—No cases were notified during 1951. Notifications
regarding 19 persons who had been in contact with cases of smallpox in
other areas or on board ship were received. These were visited by the
Sanitary Inspectors, 116 visits being paid.
The following gives particulars as to Vaccination during 1951:—
Primary vaccination 1,583
Re-Vaccination 771
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, compulsory vaccination
was abolished, and from 5th July, 1948, this service became the responsibility
of the Essex County Council vide Section 26 of the National Health Service
Act, 1948.
(b) Scarlet Fever.—278 cases occurred in 1951. There were no deaths
from this disease. Thirteen cases were admitted to Isolation Hospitals
outside the district.
(c) Diphtheria.—One case only was notified in 1951. The patient (a
boy of 5 years) was admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital and made a
satisfactory recovery.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Three cases occurred during 1951.
The following figures show the number of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified during the oast five years: 1947. 11: 1948. 4: 1949. 1:
1950, 2 ; 1951, 3.

(e) Enteric Fever.—Six cases only occurred during the year, 3 males
(7, 33 and 41 years) and 3 females (6, 17 and 53 years). Four cases were
para-typhoid fever "B". All the cases were treated in Hospital and
recovered.
(/) (i) Acute Poliomyelitis.—One case only was notified during the
year—a boy of 15 years. He was admitted to the Ilford Isolation
Hospital and made a good recovery without any residual paralysis.
One other case (which was not notified) occurred in a male child of
two years. The child was admitted to King George Hospital, but died the
day following. A post-mortem was performed by order of the Coroner,
who certified the cause of death as acute anterior poliomyelitis.
(ii) A cute Encephalitis.—One case occurred during the year—a boy of
3 years—following an attack of measles. The child was admitted to the
Ilford Isolation Hospital, but died five hours after admission. A postmortem
was performed by the Coroner who confirmed the cause of death.
(iii) Meningococcal infection.—Two cases occurred during the year—
males of 7 and 20 years. One case was admitted to the Ilford Isolation
Hospital, but the patient died four days after admission. The other case
was admitted to King George Hospital and was discharged after three
weeks, having made a satisfactory recovery.
(g) Pneumonia—Influenzal and Primary.—This disease was more
prevalent during 1951 than in the previous year,- especially of the influenzal
type, in the first two months of the year. Persons above the age of 65 years
were mostly subject to attack.