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10
Smallpox - Revaccinatlon
Children 18
Adults l62
Diphtheria
There was one case of diphtheria affecting the tonsils
and larynx of a girl of 8 years who died from the infection.
The child was reported to have been Immunised as a baby, although
the actual record was not available, and she had received a
"booster dose" in January, 1956. This is the first case of
diphtheria which has occurred in Hampstead sinoe 1951 and the
first death from diphtheria since 1943.
Dysentery
The number of cases of dysentery notified was 60, the
highest figure since 1954. The majority of the cases were due
to the Sonne organism, although a few were attributed to the
Flexner type. Included in the tota1 there were three family
outbreaks of 3, 4 and 5 persons respectively, and six cases in
which two persons of the same family were affected. Although
the total is high it compares favourably with an adjoining
borough in which there were 112 cases within 2 weeks.
Encephalitis
There was one case of encephalitis following an
attack of measles in a girl of 12 years.
Measles
Measles frequently shows a periodicity, recurring in
larger numbers in alternate years and this has been very evident
in Hampstead in recent years. In 1958 however, when a low
number might have been expected, there were 706 cases as compered
with 829 in 1957. There were no deaths from this disease.
Poliomyelitis
Only two cases of poliomyelitis were notified during
the year. Both cases were paralytic, one in a girl of 11 months
and the other in a boy of 5 years. The boy had been immunised
against poliomyelitis. Fortunately, both cases were mild; the
little girl has removed from the district and the boy has fully
recovered. It is reasonable to suppose that had the boy not
been immunised the course of the disease might have been more
severe. Seventeen other cases were notified as suspected