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29
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Measles
As expected, the incidence of measles was much higher
in 1963 than in the previous year - there were 1,962
c ases (337 in 1962) and of these 39.8% were children in
the 5-10 age group.
Respiratory complications of this disease are often
high during the first year of life, but seldom give rise
to concern after the age of three years. There were no
deaths from measles in this borough in 1963. Complications
of measles are not only dependent on the age of the patient,
but also on the general environment and nutrition, hence
they are more common in the urban population, but they do
not appear to have been unduly prevalent in Camberwell. A
National Inquiry was carried out during the first four
months of 1963, to discover the frequency of complications
in measles. It was then discovered that one in fifteen
persons developed potentially serious complications and,
of these twelve died. Severe bronchitis, ear infections
and disorders of the nervous system were reported in this
order of frequency. One per cent of all cases required
admission to hospital and these patients were usually
infants or adults.
A live vaccine is now available for protection against
me asles, but it may not be free from side effects, and is
not yet obtainable for large scale immunisation. It is
doubtful, however, whether its general use would be
Justified in this country as it may be in countries
abroad where the disease remains an important cause of
deaths in infancy and childhood.
Bacillary Dysentery (Sonne) gave rise to 220 sporadic
cases. In accordance with the present trend the main
incidence was during the early months of the year,
Particularly in children in the first years of school
l ife. This re-emphasises the need for good habit formation
at an early age, in order to prevent the transmission of
infection by unwashed hands which contaminate books,
Pencils and other articles.
Smallpox
There were no cases of smallpox in Camberwell during
1963, but the Medical Officer of Health was consulted on