View report page

11
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
The total number of notifications of infectious disease
during 1961 was 1 ,248. This was the highest for some years,
but of the total nearly 88 per cent. were cases of measles most
of which occurred during the first quarter of the year, the peak
being reached in the middle of February. Apart from cases of
measles the total notifications dropped from 228 in .1960 to 155
in 1961.
Smallpox
No case of smallpox occurred in the Borough during 1961 ,
but a case was found in the neighbouring Borough of St. Pancras
on Christmas Day. Rapid and energetic measures were taken in
that Borough and although there were contact cases to be followed
up and several cases of chicken pox came under suspicion,
Hampstead remained free.
Unfortunately, other cases of smallpox were confirmed
in Yorkshire and these were associated - as was the St. Pancras
case - with the epidemic in Pakistan. Public demand for
vaccination mounted and the situation developed almost to one
of mass vaccination. Whilst public alarm is not the best reason
for vaccination, a great many people including a large number of
children who would not otherwise have come forward, were
presented for vaccination.
The staff of the Public Health Department had been
vaccinated in the autumn of 1960 and were re-vaccinated at this
time.
Diphtheria
Although there were no cases of diphtheria in Hampstead
in 1961 , cases had occurred in Islington and Finsbury and in
January, 1961 there were confirmed cases in a Training Centre
in Kensington which was attended by some Hampstead children.
Nose and throat swabs were taken from more than 50 persons in
Hampstead, mainly children, who had been or may have been
contacts with the confirmed case, but fortunately all the bacteriological
results were negative.