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The Measles Scheme of Control has for its object the early
submission to the Medical Officer of Health of the names and addresses
of suspected cases of measles among young children, so that the
necessary administrative action can be taken by him to lessen the
spread of the disease, to prevent the development of complications
and to reduce the mortality. These include the early visitation to
the homes of all known or suspected cases to ensure adequate
medical and nursing attention of the patient; instructing households
with young children in infected areas as to the signs and
symptoms of this disease; the means of obtaining nursing assistance
and how to secure the removal of particular cases to hospital. This
scheme of co-operation between the School Medical Authority and
the Borough Council was put into operation in November 1933, soon
after the commencement of the epidemic, and was continued until
about the end of June of the year under review. The epidemic
finally ceased in July 1934.
The following information was furnished to the London County
Council at the request of that authority as to the number of cases of
measles that came to the notice of this Department, the age distribution
of these cases, and the number of deaths from this disease,
during the period November 1st, 1933, to August 31st, 1934: —
Ages.
Under 1
1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-14
14 &
over.
Total.
No. of
cases.
34 73 87 285 590 830 440 149 195 9 2,692
No. of
deaths.
2 10 4 5 2 6 - - 2 1 32
Measles Serum.
Protection of non-immune children from an attack of measles
and the attenuation of an attack by the injection of convalescent
and adult serum is now possible, and it is to be regretted that parents
have not given more consideration to the question of obtaining this
protective treatment for their children in view of the number of
deaths that take place every year from this cause.
No applications were received from medical practitioners for
measles serum, which is available for issue from the Hospital for
Sick Children, Great Ormond Street.
Whooping Cough.
The number of cases of this disease which came to the notice
of the Health Department during the year through the agency
of the school authorities and health visitors was 272. The homes of
these patients were visited either by the Health Visitors or the