London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Finsbury 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]

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POLIOMYELITIS:
During these five years there were 13 definite cases of Polio
myelitis:- two in 1956; five in 1957 (one of these cases was notified
in another area where he had proceeded for about a week); two in 1958;
three in 1959 and one in 1960, All but one of the cases, a child of
8 with non-paralytic disease in 1959, were below the age of 5. one
being under 12 months This incidence is well below the National &
Regional average, and it is specially to be noted that no adult cases
occurred
In spite of intensive investigation no relationship was discovered
between any of the cases and any other known case elsewhere, except
that it seemed probable afterwards that a playmate of one child had
recently recovered from a mild non-paralytic attack.
One case of a girl of 4 had a very severe attack in 1958 involving
arms legs, back and chest, and was nursed in a respirator for a
considerable time, spent 18 months in hospital, but is now able to go
about in a wheeled chair, and attend a residential school.
Three cases recovered completely, but for some leg weakness for
which a caliper is now worn.
Two recovered completely but for some weakness of facial muscles.
Two have moved out of the district one with paralysis of the
back and right leg making very slow progress, and one believed to have
made a complete recovery.
The remaining four cases two of them non paralytic, have made
complete recoveries.
The child of 8 in 1959 without paralysis was the only case who
had had two injections of Poliomyelitis Vaccine. The girl of 4 with
widespread paralysis had her first injection 10 days before the onset
of the disease i. e during the incubation and too late to give any
protection, None of the other cases had received any vaccine
The case in 1960 was that of a girl aged 16 months who had some
bulbar paralysis including the left side of the face Recovery was
complete except for some weakness of the face muscles already referred
to.
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