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50
SECTION F
Prevalence of, and Control Over, Infectious and Other
Diseases.
The total number of infectious diseases notified, excluding
Tuberculosis, was 1,605 as compared with 1,102 for the previous
year. Of the 1,605 notifications received, in 25 cases the diagnosis
was not confirmed, thus giving a corrected figure of 1,580 cases.
Particulars relating to age groups and districts are shown in the
tables at the end of the Report.
Smallpox.—No cases of this disease were notified during the
year. There were, however, several contacts reported arriving in the
Borough from abroad : these were kept under observation for the
requisite period.
Public Health (Smallpox Prevention), Regulations,
1917.—It was not found necessary for your Medical Officer of Health
to undertake any vaccinations during the year.
Details respecting vaccination in the Borough are given in the
Appendix to the Report.
Measles.—There were 902 cases of Measles notified as compared
with 341 for the previous year and 330 for the year 1944.
Twenty-three cases were removed to hospital. The outbreak began
in February and reached the peak during April, when 80 cases were
notified in one week, after which the number gradually diminished
and finally subsided in August. One of the cases proved fatal.
Whooping Cough.—Two hundred and eleven cases were
notified as compared with 133 for the previous year: 101 occurred in
East Greenwich, 30 in West Greenwich, 12 in St. Nicholas Deptford
and 68 in Charlton and Kidbrooke. Eighteen cases were removed
to hospital for treatment.
There were two fatal cases.
As in the case of Measles, every case nursed at home was visited
by the Health Visitor and leaflets left with the parents or guardians
with a view to advising them as to the care of the patients.
Twenty-one children were immunised against Whooping Cough
at the Seamen's Hospital.
Diphtheria.—The number of patients notified by Medical
Practitioners as suffering from this disease was 42 as compared with
54 for the previous year and 59 for the year 1944. All the cases
were removed to hospital for treatment. Fourteen cases, however,
were reported by the hospital authorities to be suffering from
diseases other than Diphtheria so that the number was accordingly
reduced to 28.