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18
Prevention of Poliomyelitis
In London 77 per cent. of the child population from the age of 6 months to
14 years received either three injections or doses of polio vaccine. Only three
notifications were received for the whole of London, of which two were not con
firmed. The one case of paralytic poliomyelitis was in respect of an unvaccinated
man age 34 years.
The number of cases of poliomyelitis in England and Wales, which was lower
last year than for nearly half a century, continued at a low level, surely a vindication
of the faith and perseverance of those concerned in the protection of the more
youthful members of our country over the past decade.
These reports have always stressed the danger of any relaxation of effort in
the prevention of tuberculosis, and precisely the same arguments apply to
poliomyelitis. Every effort should continue to be made to increase the percentage
of persons protected against this disease, with particular emphasis on children and
adolescents. Use of the newer oral type vaccine should facilitate this endeavour.
In the No. 1 Division 11,614 vaccinations against this disease were carried
out by the London County Council during 1963.
Prevention of Tuberculosis
B.C.G. vaccination is offered to all children in their 13th year, with the object
of providing artificial immunity during the adolescent period when young people
are most susceptible to this disease. A total of 957 Hammersmith children received
this vaccination this year.
Incidence of Infectious Diseases
Dysentery
48 cases of dysentery occurred during 1963, which is 4 more than last year.
There were no deaths, nor were there any outbreaks.
In one case I was notified that the patient, aged 3½ years attended a Day
Nursery in the Borough and the mother worked in a cafe. Specimens were submitted
for the remainder of the family and all proved positive for Sonne Dysentery.
All the children were removed to the Western Isolation Hospital.
A notice under the Public Health (Infectious Disease) Regulations, 1953, was
served on the Mother precluding her from carrying on her duties in the cafe until
the risk of infection was removed. This notice also informed her of the Council's
powers under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1959, to compensate
her for loss of earnings as a result of complying with the notice.
The mother was away from work from 25th July to 20th August, 1963, and
a sum of £15 7s. 4d. was paid to her by way of reimbursement for loss of earnings.
Food Poisoning
This year there were only 13 cases of Food Poisoning. The following agent
was identified:—
Salmonella Typhimurium 2
In the other 11 cases no specific organism was isolated.
Smallpox
There were no confirmed cases of smallpox in the Borough during the year or
indeed in England. Conceivably the more stringent regulations arising from the
recommendation by the Public Health Committee of the Council of Europe have
had some effect in making less likely the importation of smallpox by air passengers.
These regulations which came into operation on 1st August 1963, recommended
that a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against smallpox should
normally be required by national health administrations from travellers arriving
from local infected areas and from "endemic areas", the latter to be defined as
consisting of Africa, Asia and the Americas (excluding Canada and the United