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21
The remarkable improvement achieved in the last ten years in the treatment of
this disease is shown in the decrease of notifications from 208 in 1951 to 102 in
1961. The notification figures for England and Wales in the same period show a
similar reduction; from 49.440 in 1951 to 23,605 in 1960. The number of deaths
from the disease has fallen dramatically from 44 in 1951 to 5 in 1961, and this
compares very favourably with the corresponding figures for England and Wales,
where there were 13,706 deaths in 1951, falling to 3,435 in 1960.
Typhoid Carrier
On the 2nd November, 1961, a letter was received from the Principal Medical
Officer, Ministry of Health, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, stating that a lady was
arriving in this country to take up permanent residence in Hammersmith, and that
she was recorded as a typhoid carrier. It appears that her intention to come to this
country became known to the Ministry of Health at Kingston after she had left
Jamaica.
Investigation on her arrival in Hammersmith confirmed that she was a typhoid
carrier. Therefore, regular tests were instituted for all members of the household
where this lady had come to live. At the same time a Notice was served in accordance
with the Infectious Diseases Regulations. 1953 requiring that she refrain from
engaging in any occupation connected with the preparation and handling of food or
drink for human consumption, and also that all necessary precautions be taken to
prevent the spread of infection.
In co-operation with the family practitioner the carrier and household contacts
were kept under close observation until, eventually, she was referred to hospital
where a successful operation was performed to end the carrier state.
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation
Arrangements continued for the authentication by the Medical Officer of Health
of the signature of doctors on certificates of vaccination and inoculation by travellers
from this country going abroad as required by the International Sanitary Regulations.
During the year 612 certificates were authenticated.