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41
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The number of notifications of infectious diseases received
at the Public Health Department during the year was 1,202 as
compared with 2,341 during the previous year. This considerable
reduction is largely accounted for by a decrease of 876 in
the number of cases of measles. The figures for scarlet fever
and whooping cough also fell by 80 and 89 respectively. The
table appearing on the following page summarises by diseases
and age groups the notifications received during the year.
Diphtheria.
No confirmed case of diphtheria has occurred in Camberwell
for the past four years. One notification of this disease was
received during 1954, but after admission to hospital the patient
was found not to be suffering from diphtheria and the diagnosis
was altered to "glandular fever."
Whilst it is very gratifying to be able to record this satisfactory
position with regard to the lack of diphtheria incidence,
there is a very real danger that it may give rise to an apathetic
attitude to immunisation on the part of parents. The publicity
campaign, which is aimed at securing the highest possible
percentage of immunity among the child population, was therefore
pursued with increasing vigour in close co-operation with
Division 7 of the London County Council who are responsible
for the Diphtheria Immunisation Service in Camberwell.

Smallpox.
No cases of smallpox occurred in Camberwell during the
year. Early in August the Medical Officer of Health was called
into consultation by a general practitioner who suspected that
one of his patients might be suffering from this disease, but
fortunately the diagnosis was not confirmed.