View report page

A survey at the end of 1956 of the state of immunisation of
eight hundred and ninety three babies born in 1955 showed that
five hundred and ninety two representing 66 per cent, had been
immunised. Of the children under five years of age, two thousand
six hundred and eighty seven, representing 59 per cent, had been
immunised- Of the school children of five to fourteen years of
age, six thousand seven hundred and ninety two, representing
61 per cent, had been immunised and sufficiently reinforced and
two thousand four hundred and eighty three, representing 22 per
cent, previously Immunised. required further reinforcement.
During 1956 one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine reinforcing
injections were given.
Measles. Two hundred and seventy five cases were notified
in 1956, compared with one thousand and thirty nine cases in 1955.
The case rate was 3.49 per thousand of population, compared with
3.59 per thousand of population for England and Wales. There was
no death,
After the severe epidemic in the Spring and Summer of 1955
there was a period of quiescence until the end of that year.
During 1956 the incidence was relatively low but sporadic cases
and small localised outbreaks occurred. The greatest prevalence
was from May to July and the highest numbers of cases were in
the East and South wards. One hundred and twelve of the cases
were infants under five years of age and eight were babies under
one year.

Measles is caused by a virus. There is no specific drug
or vaccine. The illness can be severe The danger of complications
by secondary infections has been reduced by the timely and
selective use of antibiotics. Babies and weakly children should
be protected from acquiring the infection. Some parents regard
the infectivity of Measles with undue complacency to the detriment
of others. Prevention depends on recognition of the early
catarrhal symptoms which are present for three or four days
before the rash appears and on early isolation which should
continue until symptoms and signs have completely disappeared.
Careful nursing and careful convalescence are essential. The
Illness can be prevented or modified by the injection of gamma
globulin early in the incubation period. A limited quantity of
gamma globulin is available for cases where there is special risk
Whooping Cough. Sixty six cases were notified in 1956,
compared with one hundred and sixteen cases in 1955. The case
34