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Diphtheria. In the report for 1944, attention
was specially drawn to the spectacular decline in the incidence
of diphtheria and in the number of deaths following the
introduction of immunisation by the Council in 1934. In preimmunisation
days there was an average of several hundred
cases of diphtheria and about twenty deaths each year. In
1944 there were only 29 cases and no deaths. In 1945 the
number was still further reduced to 19 cases. Unfortunately,
there were two deaths - one was the death of a baby of 12
months and the other a lady of 64 years; neither had been
immunised.
Since 1934 there has not been in Kensington
one death amongst the thousands that have been immunised.
Infectious diseases generally. There was no
occurrence of any disease in serious epidemic form during the
year. Many men and women came to this country from typhus
and smallpox infected areas, but the close surveillance of
these people day by day for two or three weeks after arrival
prevented any outbreak of these diseases.
Scabies continues to cause much trouble and
the Council's scheme for treatment and control was carefully
operated throughout the year.
Staff. During the war period, the Council
relied very largely on temporary staff with a nucleus of
permanent officers and it seems appropriate at this time
to place on record the loyal service given by these officers
under difficult conditions. The staff in the Public Health
Department wish to acknowledge the encouragement and
support they received from the Mayor, the Chairmen and ViceChairmen
of the various committees, and all members of the
Council.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Many members of the Council were away on
national service during the war period and many new members
were elected in November, 1945. In these circumstances, it
is desirable that as early as possible a full health report
should be presented. However, printing difficulties and
paper shortage make this impracticable at this stage; but
it will be helpful to members of the Council to have readily
at hand in one document the following summary of vital
statistics relating to the borough for 1945 and the six
previous years covered by the war.