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Notification of Infectious Diseases
1,504 cases of infectious diseases were notified during the year including 170 cases
removed to hospital.
These figures show a decrease on the previous year of 351 cases, attributable to a large
drop in the number of dysentery cases and puerperal pyrexia notifications, with a lesser incidence
of measles. There was a slight increase in the number of scarlet fever cases, whilst
whooping cough continued at virtually the same level.
Of interest was the incidence of malaria- 4 cases being notified.
Incidence of Infectious Diseases
Dysentery
The majority of the 56 cases notified in respect of persons resident within the Borough
were of a sporadic nature, although there were five small family outbreaks involving sixteen
persons.
Food Poisoning
There were no general or family outbreaks during the year, the 18 notified cases relating
to persons resident within the Borough being of a sporadic nature.
The following causative agents were identified
Salmonella Typhi-murium 7
Salmonella Stanley 2
In the other 9 cases, no specific organism was isolated.
Smallpox
There were no confirmed cases of smallpox in the Borough.
During the year notifications were received from London Airport and Port Health Authorities
in respect of 36 persons arriving in this country from abroad, who were not in possession
of valid certificates of vaccination. Of this total, 28 persons were from areas where smallpox
is endemic, whilst the remaining 8 were from locally infected areas. With the exception of 3
persons who could not be traced, all were placed under surveillance for 14 days from the date
of departure and all remained free from infection.
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation
Arrangements continued for the authentication by the Medical Officer of Health of the
signatures of doctors on certificates of vaccination and inoculation for travellers from this
country going abroad, as required by the International Sanitary Regulations.
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