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Section F. PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
The incidence of infectious disease in the district, with the exception
of diphtheria, was not abnormal. Scarlet fever was of the mild type
now prevalent; the home nursing of cases is encouraged whenever
circumstances permit.
Diphtheria.
Of the twenty-four cases of the disease, twenty occurred in the
first six months of the year and of these no less than twelve were
amongst children and staff at an open air school where the disease had
been prevalent in 1938. Immunisation of the children either before or
after admission was suggested but hitherto the authorities of the school
have not seen their way to adopt the suggestion, although there is
abundant evidence that the disease in schools and institutions can be
almost entirely eradicated by systematic immunisation.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
In the later part of the year immunisation clinics were opened at
the Child Welfare Centres in Loughton and Buckhurst Hill and the
response from parents has been encouraging.