View report page

42
The year 1955 showed a greater incidence of infectious disease,
especially in the number of cases of measles. No fewer than 2,961 case^
were notified as compared with 963 in the previous year. The number of
cases of whooping cough also increased over the previous year—518 as
against 271.
(a) Smallpox.—No cases were notified during 1955.
The following gives particulars as to vaccination during 1955:—
Primary vaccination 1,376
Re-vaccination 398
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.—136 cases occurred in 1955. There were no deaths
from this disease. Only 26 cases were admitted to hospital, the remainder
being nursed at home.
(c) Diphtheria.—No cases occurred in 1955. This is the fourth successive
year in which it has been possible to record a clean " bill of health "
for this disease in llford.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—No cases occurred in 1955.
The following figures show the number of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified during the past five years: 1951, 3; 1952, nil; 1953, nil:
1954, nil; 1955, nil. It is to be remembered that many cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum are not due to gonococcal infection.
(e) Enteric Fever.—One case was reported during 1955. This occurred
in a male of 48 years who had visited a seaside town with a firm's outing.
The organism discovered in the case was one of Para-typhoid "B."
(f) Acute Poliomyelitis. Twenty-five cases of this disease were notified
during the year. They were males of 4, 5, 5. 8, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18. 22, 24,
32, and 36 years, and females of 6 months, 8 months, 2¾, 5, 5, 7, 7, 12, 20,
27, 34. and 34 years. All the patients were removed to hospital.
In addition to the foregoing cases a male child, aged 3 years, died in
King George Hospital two days after admission. In the first place the
death was certified, following a post mortem, as being due to Encephalitis,
but further investigations proved that the cause of death was poliomyelitis.
It was necessary to exclude two persons from their usual occupation
who had been in direct contact with cases of poliomyelitis. Compensation
was paid for loss of wages to the two persons concerned.
(g) Acute Encephalitis. Three cases of this disease occurred. They
were a male child 6 years, and two females of 3¾ and 4 years. All were
removed to hospital. The female child of four years died three months
after admission from meningo encephalitis.
(h) Meningococcal Infection. No cases of this disease occurred during
1955.
(i) Pneumonia—Influenzal and Primary. The number of cases which
occurred during 1955 was 139 as compared with 148 during 1954.
(j) Tuberculosis. During 1955 there were 123 new notifications of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis and 15 of other forms of Tuberculosis. In addition
28 pulmonary and 4 non-pulmonary cases were transferred to the
district.