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Repeated visits were paid by the medical staff and health visitors to
the schools mainly affected for the purpose of inspecting the children.
All those with suspicious symptoms were excluded and followed up,
and a large number of swabs was sent for bacteriological examination.
The illness was almost invariably reported to be of a mild
character.
Measles.
Seven hundred and fifty-eight cases of measles were notified
during 1951. There was one death — a child aged 19 months who
died in hospital where he had been an inpatient for some time owing
to a congenital deformity.
Measles is now a milder illness than it used to be, and this, combined
with the introduction of sulphonamides and antibiotics, has very
materially reduced the death-rate.
Acute Poliomyelitis.
Four cases of poliomyelitis occurred during 1951, three of them
associated with moderate or severe paralysis. One of these patients —
a woman aged 34 years — died shortly after being admitted to hospital.
Dysentery.
During 1951 52 cases of Sonne dysentery, and one of Flexner
dysentery, were notified to the Department. Thirty-five of the cases of
Sonne dysentery were connected with the outbreak which commenced
at one of the day nurseries in Wimbledon in December, 1950. Seven
of the remaining cases occurred amongst children, or contacts of
children, attending one of the junior schools in Wimbledon.
There is reason to think that the incidence of Sonne dysentery
amongst the general public is much higher than the notified figures
would appear to indicate, as cases of slight diarrhoea are often not
submitted to bacteriological investigation.
One patient found to be suffering from Flexner dysentery was
removed to hospital for treatment.
Food Poisoning.
In three of the four cases of food poisoning notified during 1951
it was not possible to trace the source of infection. The remaining
case occurred in a man aged 57 who died two days after being admitted
to hospital. The organism isolated in this case was salmonella
enteritidis, and the illness was attributed to the consumption of a duckegg.
It was not possible to trace the supplier of the infected egg.
Public Health (Leprosy) Regulations 1951.
These Regulations came into operation on 22nd June, 1951. The
Regulations make leprosy a notifiable disease. Notification is sent in
direct to the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health.
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