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59
Diphtheria:
In all 50 cases were notified during the year and 30 carriers
were discovered. The infection followed the same pattern as in
the previous year causing mild symptoms in some cases and none in
others, making it impossible to distinguish accurately between
true cases of diphtheria and carriers who were either healthy or
had some other mild illness. There was only one serious case and
no deaths.
One sporadic nasal carrier was discovered in a boy aged 5
who was staying with relatives in Pinsbury, whilst his mother was
in hospital with a Diphtheritic infection, but was normally
resident elsewhere in London. He was admitted to hospital and
did not return to this Borough,
A considerable outbreak in one of the schools in the Borough
occurred in the summer. The majority of the cases occurred before
the school holidays and by the time these took place it was hoped
that the infection had been completely eliminated. Unfortunately
however a few more cases and carriers were discovered when the
school re-opened, including 6 carriers who were involved before
the holidays (3 of these had been regarded as cases of Diphtheria
and 3 as carriers, and all had had 3 negative swab examinations
before the holidays). It was not clear whether these incidents
arose because the organism had persisted intermittently throughout,
or because re-infection had occurred.
As on the previous occasion the Divisional Medical Officer
of the London County Council by agreement, undertook the responsibility
for the routine swabbing of all school contacts. All
school absentees and all contacts including, where known, the
playmates of all those found to be harbouring the causative
organisms were followed up and swabbed by the Borough Council
staff, as were those carriers treated at home.
During this outbreak 64 individuals in all were found to
have Diphtheria or to be carriers, in addition to 1 case of
Diphtheria and 8 carriers found among children who attended the
school, though resident in neighbouring boroughs. Of the 64
individuals concerned 43 including 2 adults were regarded as cases
of Diphtheria, and 21 including 3 adults were regarded as carriers.
The only serious case was that of the adult aged 16 who had
been immunised and had had a booster injection.