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comparative immunity of the country has hitherto been due mainly
to its high vaccination state. With the fall in vaccinations this
fortunate state of affairs cannot be expected to continue.
International Certificates (Ministry of Health Circular
20/52).—The question of authentication of International Certificates
of vaccination has now been settled by the adoption of the International
Sanitary Regulations (W.H.O. Regulations No. 2) which
replaced the International Sanitary Conventions on 1st October,
1952. The Regulations prescribe, inter alia, new forms of International
Certificates of vaccination against Cholera and Smallpox
and, to be valid, the certificate must bear an approved stamp
which certifies that the signature of the Vaccinator is that of a
practising medical practitioner.
During the year some 224 certificates of persons proceeding
abroad were so authenticated, of these 199 were in respect of Smallpox
and 25 for Cholera ; in 4 instances the necessary vaccinations
were actually carried out by your Medical Officer of Health.
In addition to the above, 9 certificates in respect of inoculation
against Typhoid were similarly verified.
Measles.—The customary ' rhythm ' of the biennial fluctuation
in the incidence of measles reasserted itself in the last Quarter of
1952 and the outbreak continued into the first Quarter of the following
year. In fact 86% of the current year's total of notifications
for this disease were received in the first three months.
There were 560 notifications received throughout the year as
compared with 918 and 1,482 for 1952 and 1951 respectively.
Indeed, this present figure is the lowest since 1947 when 273 notifications
were received. The distribution of the cases was as
follows :—East Greenwich 125 ; West Greenwich 51 ; St. Nicholas,
Deptford 13 ; Charlton and Kidbrooke 371.
Seventeen cases occurred in children under one year of age,
273 between 1 and 5 years, 260 between 5 and 15 years and 10 were
reported in persons of 15 years and over. Of the total, seventeen
cases were removed to hospital but there were no fatalities.
Whooping Cough.—Altogether 236 notifications of this disease
were received but in one instance the diagnosis was not upheld.
The final figure of 235, although 45 higher than 1952, compares
very favourably with the 384 for 1951 and 309 for 1950.
It is regrettable that 2 of the six cases removed to hospital
died. Both of these cases were notified posthumously and were in
respect of infants aged 4 months and 9 months respectively.