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
Battersea 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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52
Measles.
Measles recurred in epidemic form in London in 1934, and in
Battersea 3,022 cases were notified under the Battersea (Measles
and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1922, and 697 additional cases
were reported from schools and other sources, making a total
of 3,719 cases, being 24.65 per 1,000 of the population. Thirty-two
deaths from the disease were recorded, giving a death rate of 0.21,
and a case-mortality of 0.86 per cent. of the total cases.
The corresponding figures for 1933 were : cases 500, incidence
per 1,000 population 3 .25, deaths 1, death-rate 0.006, case-mortality
rate 0.2 per cent.
Of the 3,719 cases, 632 were removed to hospital.
The table below gives particulars, in two-yearly periods, of
the previous biennial epidemics of measles which have occurred
since the Regulations requiring the notification of measles in
Battersea came into force. It will be seen that the epidemic of
1934 was severe in regard to the number of cases occurring, but
that the death-rate is the lowest shown, with one exception, and
the case-mortality rate is the lowest of the series.
Incidence and Mortality of Measles in Epidemic Periods, 1921-1934.
| Period. | Cases Notified or Reported. | Deaths | Death Rate per 1,000 Population | Case Rate per 100,000 Population | Case Mortality (per centum). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10. | All ages. | |||||
| 1921-2 | 3,209 | 68 | 1.13 | .201 | 948.3 | 2.12 |
| 1923-4 | 4,111 | 75 | 1.28 | .220 | 1203.5 | 1.82 |
| 1925-6 | 4,997 | 47 | .87 | .137 | 1452.6 | 0.94 |
| 1927-8 | 4,197 | 37 | .70 | .111 | 1260.0 | 0.88 |
| 1929-30 | 3,921 | 43 | .83 | . 133 | 1215.8 | 1.10 |
| 1931-32 | 3,002 | 25 | .51 | .079 | 947.6 | 0.83 |
| 1933-34 | 4,219 | 33 | .72 | .108 | 1383.9 | 0.78 |
The scheme of the London County Council for the control of
measles in elementary schools during epidemic periods, was carried
out by the Health Visitors in conjunction with the school medical
and nursing staff, and 4,254 visits were made by the Health Visitors
during the year to houses in which cases of measles had occurred.
Whooping-Cough.
During 1934 there were 477 cases of Whooping-Cough notified
under the Battersea (Measles and Whooping-Cough) Regulations,
1922, to the Medical Officer of Health and 205 additional cases were
reported from the public elementary schools and other sources.
The total number of cases notified or otherwise reported during
1934 was 682, as compared with 976 in 1933, 1,109 in 1932, 747 in
1931, and 537 in 1930, the decrease in 1934 compared with 1933
being 30.1 per cent. Of the total cases, notified and reported,
76 were removed to hospital.