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43
Whooping Cough.
There was again a considerable incidence of Whooping Cough
throughout 1951, but fortunately no deaths occurred. The majority
of the cases were in the age-group 1—5 years but one adult, a nurse,
developed the disease.
Out of a total of 192 cases, 16 were classified as severe, 75 as
moderate, and 101 as mild. Thirty-two patients were removed to
hospital because of unsuitable home conditions, but there were no
complications.
Fifty-two of the cases of Whooping Cough were diagnosed or
confirmed, as a result of tests carried out in the Laboratory.
Food Poisoning.
In all, 15 cases of food poisoning were notified. The first
occurred in January, 3 in February, 6 in August, 3 in September, and
2 in October. They have been dealt with fully elsewhere.
Smallpox.
No cases occurred in the Borough. Two smallpox contacts were
supervised during the period of possible incubation but there were no
developments. One contact was a girl who had visited Brighton
during the epidemic there, and the other a wine steward from an
infected ship.
Typhus.
In October, two seamen arrived from a typhus infected port.
They were kept under supervision and there were no further
developments.
Dysentery.
The total number of cases of dysentery (sonne type) during 1951
was 163. Of these, 89 occurred in children in the 4 Day Nurseries
in the Borough. Thirty adults were notified and they were probably
infected by their children. In only 35 cases were the symptoms
severe and there were no deaths. Sixty cases were removed to
hospital for treatment and four were already in-patients when they
developed the disease.