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
Kensington 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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A more accurate investigation in the following years indicated that, of the new cases and "inward transfers" reported in the borough, the proportions who were immigrants contracting the disease in the first ten years of arrival, were as follow:-
| Year | Proportion |
|---|---|
| per cent. | |
| 1952 | 16 |
| 1953 | 10 |
| 1954 | 16 |
| 1955 | 17 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1957 | 16 |
| 1958 | 23 |
| 1959 | 20 |
| 1960 | 20 |
This year, 39% (1959-43%) of the infected immigrants
contracted the disease within one year of arrival in this country;
73% (1959-75%) contracted it within three years of arrival.
Persons born in the Republic of Ireland were regarded as immigrants
for this purpose.
The 1951 Census figures showed that out of a total
Kensington population of 168,160, there were 29,353 residents (or
just over 17%) who were born outside the United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland.
Whooping Cough
One hundred and fifty-four cases were notified during the
year, eleven of which were treated in hospital. No deaths were
reported during 1960.
International Certificates
In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases,
certain countries require that visitors should be vaccinated or
inoculated against specified diseases.
International certificates have been prescribed for
smallpox, yellow fever and cholera. When completed by the medical
practitioner, the certificates must be authenticated by the Medical
Officer of Health.
During the year, 3,309 of these certificates were authenticated in Kensington. In addition, 14 special exemption certificates were issued to travellers for use in the United States of
America.
Notifications
The following tables show (l) the number of cases of
infectious disease notified during the year 1960, with comparative
figures for the previous seven years; (2) the number of notifications divided into age groups; and (3) the number of cases
notified in each ward of the borough.