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63
The corresponding figures for 1935 were : cases 89, incidence
per 1,000 population 0-6, deaths nil.
Of the 2,613 cases, 494 were removed to hospital.
The table below gives particulars in two-yearly periods of the
biennial epidemics of measles which have occurred since the Regulations
requiring the notification of measles in Battersea came into
force.
Incidence and Mortality of Measles in Epidemic Periods,
1921-1936.
Period.
Cases
notified
or
reported.
Deaths
Death rate per
1,000 Population
Case rate
per
100,000
Population
Case
mortality
(per
100 cases).
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
1931-2
3,002
25
.51
.079
947.6
0.83
1933-4
4,219
33
.72
.108
1383.9
0.78
1935-6
2,702
23
.54
.078
920.0
0.85
It will be seen that in incidence the epidemic was comparatively
mild, the total number of cases occurring being much the lowest
recorded in the table. The case-mortality, however, was slightly
higher than in the previous epidemic.
As in other recent epidemics, close co-operation was maintained
with the school staff of the London County Council, with whom the
Health Visitors worked in a co-ordinated scheme involving the
earliest possible visitation of the homes, the effective isolation of
the patients so far as practicable, and removal to hospital in
suitable cases. No less than 494, or 19 per cent, of the cases notified
or reported were removed to hospital, a larger percentage than
in any previous outbreak. The Health Visitors paid 3,773 visits
to the cases notified reported or suspected.
The table above will be found on close examination to indicate
considerable improvement in the results achieved by co-ordinated
action in dealing with recent epidemics, compared with those in
the earlier years. The summary following will perhaps render
the improvement more readily perceptible.
Average per annum.
6 Years
1925-30.
6 Years
1931-36.
Percentage
decrease or
increase.
Cases per 1,000 population
13.12
10.84
-17.38
Removed to hospital (per cent.)
7.556
15.701
+ 107.8
Deaths per 1,000 population
0.127
0.088
-30.35
Deaths per 100 cases
0.968
0.816
-15.7