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8
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
The number of cases of notifiable infectious diseases
was 997, nearly 240 less than in the previous year. The reduction
was mainly due to a smaller number of cases of measles and
whooping cough. It was anticipated by some persons that the
epidemic of influenza which affected Hampstead together with most
of the country in the autumn of 1957 would show a recrudescence
in the following spring, but happily although there were some
cases of influenza they did not reach the proportions of an
epidemic.
In the prevention of infectious disease one of the most
important weapons is the protection of persons at risk by
immunisation. Immunisation by the Borough Council against
diphtheria started in 1933 during which year there were 104 cases
of diphtheria notified and 3 deaths. Immunisation against
this disease was intensified during the war years resulting in an
almost complete absence of cases since the war. In recent years
the proportion of children immunised has not been completely
satisfactory, probably because lack of cases has not impressed
the need for this protection.
The Divisional Medical Officer has informed me that
during 1958 the following number of persons were immunised:-
Diphtheria only
Primary course 159
Reinforcing injections 83
Combined Diphtheria /Whooping Cough
Primary course 479
Reinforcing injections 15
Combined Diphtheria/Whopping Cough/Tetanus
Primary course 239
Reinforcing injections 49
(live births in 1957 numbered 1,492)
Immunisation against poliomyelitis cotimenced in 1956.
At that time supplies of vaccine were small and immunisation was
restricted to children born during the years 1947 to 1954
inclusive. Since that time the categories have been extended
as followss:-
In July 1957 - Children born in 1955 and 1956.