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9
SECTION B
PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Infectious Disease.
1,878 cases of infectious disease were notified in the Borough
during the year. Included in this total are cases of tuberculosis
notified under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1952,
which were made by the Minister of Health under powers conferred
upon him by the Public Health Act, 1936, and which came
into force on 1st May, 1952. 124 cases were removed to isolation
hospitals. Of this number, however, 66 were on discharge from
hospital notified as not having suffered from the disease
suspected. Thus the corrected number of cases of infectious
disease for the year was 1,812. Even with the inclusion of the
tuberculosis cases, this total shows a reduction of 443 as compared
with the previous year, which is mainly accounted for by
the fact that there was no measles epidemic.
Eight cases of diphtheria were notified but not one case was
confirmed, and it is with much gratification that I am able to
record no death from this disease in the Borough during the
past nine years. During recent years great strides have been
made in protecting children against diphtheria, and this service,
free of charge, is carried out by the London County Council at
clinics, which are held regularly at local Infant Welfare Centres
and also by many general practitioners.
Figures recently made available with regard to diphtheria
prevention show that, since the inception of the present Health
Act, there has been a substantial increase in total numbers of
children rendered safe. This is particularly pleasing as I believe
that the position elsewhere is not so favourable.
To assist correct diagnosis the Council has made arrangements
for the examination of specimens from patients sent in
by doctors in doubtful or suspicious cases of diphtheria, typhoid
fever, tuberculosis, etc. This service is carried out at the West
London Hospital and is referred to later in the report.
Contacts and Carriers of Infectious Disease—Sickness
Benefit.
Ministry of Health circular 115/48 empowers the Medical
Officer of Health, where justified, to issue certificates to persons
who have been in contact with or who are carriers of an infectious
disease, thus enabling them to claim sickness benefit under the
National Insurance Acts during the period of exclusion from
their work.