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15
Infectious and Other Diseases.
During the year, 1,152 notifications were received, which, when
compared with 1,831 cases notified in 1957, shows a decrease of 679.
This was mainly due to a fall in the incidence of measles, 1,402 cases
being notified in 1957, against 614 in 1958, a decrease of 788. There
was also a decline in the notifications of whooping cough from 118 to 90.
There was, however, a sharp rise in the incidence of dysentery,
195 notifications, as against 32 in 1957. The largest number of cases
occurred in the late summer and the early autumn. A large proportion
of the cases of dysentery, not all notified, was due to an outbreak in
one school where 132 cases occurred; 361 persons were examined and
150 were reported as positive for shigella sonnei; altogether 1,402 faecal
specimens were obtained. In connection with all cases of dysentery,
suspected and otherwise, 328 premises were visited, 678 persons were
examined, and in 283 cases the organisms of shigella sonnei were found.
A total of 2,406 specimens were submitted for examination.
No case of diphtheria occurred during the year, the last case being
notified in 1953.
No cases of poliomyelitis were notified during the year. In 1957,
11 cases were notified, nine of which were confirmed, and in 1956, 29
were notified, 23 of which were confirmed.
Three cases of typhoid fever occurred during the year, of which
only two were notified. One of the cases, an adult male, thought to have
been infected by eating a meal of oysters, presented some features of
considerable epidemiological interest.
The other two cases were connected with each other, one a girl
aged 7 years, and a boy aged 8 years. At the time they resided in the
same house and attended the same school. The girl was removed to
hospital and reported to be suffering from gastro-enteritis. Some considerable
time elapsed before it was known that the child was in fact a
case of typhoid fever. In the meantime the boy and his family had
moved to another address in the Borough. Subsequent investigations
revealed that this boy was a typhoid carrier. Prolonged and extensive
treatment and hospitalization failed to clear him.
There lived in the house another family, which created a problem
at the time, as there was only one water closet, which had to be shared
by all concerned. Although T.A.B. vaccination was arranged for all
members of the household, there was still a risk that could not be
ignored, as the possibility of infection was constant. After serious
consideration it was decided to rehouse the family, who were, of course,
agreeable. This was done, and an undertaking obtained from the boy's
father (the owner) not to relet.
Eventually the boy's parents agreed to a cholecystectomy; this was
performed with success, and the boy is now considered to be clear of
typhoid. He has now returned to school after an absence of nearly
Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Immunisation,
Smallpox and Poliomyelitis Vaccination.
Diphtheria and whooping cough immunisation and vaccination
against smallpox and poliomyelitis were carried out during the year
under the control of the London County Council.