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73
Meningococcal infection
No case under this heading was notified during the year.
Malaria
Three cases of malaria were reported during the year, but
investigations showed that the patients had recently arrived from
abroad and presumably had contracted infection overseas.
Poliomyelitis
Three cases of acute poliomyelitis were notified and confirmed
during the year; two of the cases showed symptoms of paralysis.
There was no death from this disease during the year. The figures
for the last eight years are as follows:-
Year Confirmed cases Deaths
1955 30 Nil
1956 21 Nil
1957 15 1
1958 ** Nil
1959 8 Nil
1960 3 Nil
1961 7 Nil
1962 3 Nil
In addition, there were three suspected cases removed to
hospital, where the diagnosis was not confirmed. Contacts of all
cases were kept under surveillance for twenty-one days (or until the
diagnosis was changed in unconfirmed cases). Kensington residents
who were contacts of cases occurring outside the borough were also
kept under observation.
Evidence that vaccination against poliomyelitis is effective
increases every year and a recent report by the World Health Organisation
Expert Committee states that "inactivated vaccines have proved to
be safe and effective." It is probably true to say that vaccination
is slowly and steadily reducing the number of cases all over the world.
However, there is no cause for complacency and every effort must be
taken to see that the level of protected persons in the borough is
raised as high as possible.
Acute Encephalitis
One case of acute encephalitis was notified during the year.
Measles
Of the 269 cases notified during 1962, 5 cases were admitted
to hospital for treatment. No death occurred during the year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
Three cases were notified during 1962; two were treated at
home, and one was admitted to hospital. Information was also received
of a baby, born to a Kensington mother outside the borough, who contracted
the disease. All the babies recovered without injury to sight.