View report page

38
SECTION E
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE
The total number of notifications of infectious disease,
excluding Food Poisoning, during 1957 was 1,077. as compared with
514 in 1956. The increase was again due to the greater number of
cases of measles. Measles accounted for nearly 73% of all
notifications.
Eight notifications of poliomyelitis were received during the
year and in five cases the diagnosis was confirmed, all of these
being non-paralytic.
An outbreak of Dysentery occurred at a Primary School during
the year. This appeared to have started explosively during the
week in which children returned to school after the Easter holidays.
In the first two days there were fifty cases and by the end of the
first week the total had reached 101. In view of the very quick
spread of infection it was decided to exclude from school all cases
showing definite symptoms until a negative faeces specimen had been
received following a symptom-free period of one week. Of 150 cases
with symptoms, 108 proved positive and of this total 21 were
negative on cessation of the symptoms; 44 were clear of the organism
within two weeks of the cessation of the symptoms and a further 12
within three weeks. Of the 23 cases where the organism persisted
beyond three weeks, twelve were clear in four weeks, a further nine
in five weeks, and the remaining two produced their last positive
specimens in the sixth week after symptoms had ceased. Four children
were admitted to hospital but generally the illness was mild.
A detailed examination of the School was carried out and it was
found that some of the w.c.'s were in an unsatisfactory condition and
that there was a lack of proper handwashing facilities for the
children.
During the year 19 visits were made to 10 indirect contacts of
two cases of Smallpox which occurred in other Boroughs. Eight of
these contacts and seven other members of their families were
vaccinated by the Medical Officer of Health. Two of the contacts
being vaccinated at the hospital where they were employed.
Information concerning these cases of Smallpox was transmitted
to all local medical practitioners.