View report page

Some infectious diseases are not notifiable, for example, chicken pox, German measles,
and mumps, all of which occur commonly. The following diseases are notifiable:-
Anthrax Glanders Poliomyelitis, Acute
Cholera Hydrophobia (including acute polioence-
Diphtheria Leprosy phalitis)
Dysentery (including Malaria Puerperal Pyrexia
amoebic and bacillary Measles Relapsing Fever
dysentery) Membranous Croup Scabies
Enteric fever (including Meningococcal Infection Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever
typhoid and paratyphoid) Ophthalmia Neonatorum Smallpox (Variola)
Erysipelas Plague Tuberculosis
Encephalitis Acute Pneumonia (acute Typhus Fever
Food Poisoning (or primary and acute Whooping Cough
suspected Food Poisoning) influenzal)
The number of cases of infectious diseases notified during 1965 is shown in Table 4 in
the Appendix.
INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
It is very satisfying to note that no cases of diphtheria, poliomyelitis or smallpox were
notified during 1965. These diseases in particular are preventable by immunisation, and whilst the
absence of clinical cases during the year is to be welcomed, there is a real risk that the community
may become less "immunisation minded" inconsequence. These conditions are still common in some
parts of the world and may be introduced into this country at any time, especially in these days of
rapid and extensive travel.
In several cases where the diagnosis was in doubt general practitioners requested a
second opinion, and a number of persons coming to Camden from areas abroad where smallpox is
endemic and who showed no evidence of recent successful vaccination, were kept under surveillance
during the incubation period of the disease.
DYSENTERY
The majority of cases of dysentery were caused by Shigella sonnei, and this type of
dysentery is usually serious only in the very young or the very old. Being an intestinal infection
it is, however, very easily spread within a family or in an institution.
11