London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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Table showing Age Distribution of Confirmed Cases Compared with those in 1947.
| Age Groups. | 1949. | 1947. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Percentage. | Deaths. | Cases. | Percentage. | Deaths. | |
| Under 1 year | – | – | – | 1 | 2.9 | – |
| 1-5 years | 14 | 53.9 | 1 | 11 | 32.4 | 1 |
| 5-10 years | 8 | 30.8 | – | 3 | 8.8 | – |
| 10-15 years | 1 | 3.8 | – | 2 | 5.9 | – |
| 15-20 years | – | – | – | 3 | 8.8 | 1 |
| 20-30 years | 2 | 7.7 | – | 10 | 29.4 | 2 |
| Over 30 years | 1 | 3.8 | 1 | 4 | 11.8 | – |
| Totals | 26 | 100.0 | 2 | 34 | 100.0 | 4 |
It will be seen that while the attack rate was low in
infants, higher in children of school age and highest in the
1-5 and 20—30 age groups during the year 1947, in the year
under review, the majority of cases occurred in the 1 —5 age
group and in schoolchildren under 10 years.
Preventive Measures Adopted.
At the onset of the 1949 outbreak, as in 1947, all local
medical practitioners were informed and the importance of the
removal to hospital of suspect minor illness was stressed. A
pamphlet on Anterior Poliomyelitis prepared by the Central
Council for Health Education was distributed to the medical
practitioners in the Borough and at the same time copies of this
pamphlet were made available to the public by distributing
supplies at the Public Libraries and Infant Welfare Centres.
It was deemed advisable to increase the amount of chlorine
in the water at the Council's Swimming Pools and steps were
taken to prevent overcrowding of the Public Baths.
In July, your Medical Officer of Health attended a meeting at
County Hall convened for the purpose of considering the position
relating to Poliomyelitis at that time and the possibility of an
epidemic occurring. The adoption of preventive measures
which with advantage could be directed towards limiting the
spread of infection was also discussed.
In addition to the film, "Polio Diagnosis and Management"
which was exhibited in London for members of the medical