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62.3 per cent, of all cases of whooping cough and 57.0 per cent, of all cases of
measles occur in children 1-5 years. Although it is still the subject of medical
enquiry, whooping cough vaccination is being increasingly requested by parents.
London (Measles and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1938.
Home visiting of measles and whooping cough cases was carried out by the
Home Visitors as under—
No. of Investigations.
Measles Whooping Cough No. of Ineffective Visits. Re-visits
2,855 562 408 13
Acute Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis.
I reported in 1947 that the number of cases of Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis
for that year were the highest recorded up to that time for any Islington outbreak.
The number of cases in 1949, unfortunately, considerably exceeded those for 1947.
The 1949 outbreak began in July and continued to December, and the summary
of cases for each of the respective years is set out in the following table.
No. of Cases reported 1949 80
1947 50
No. of CONFIRMED cases 1949 62
1947 20
(a) June July August September October November December
1949 ..— 9 6 1 718 8 4
1947 ..126443 -
(b) Under 1 yr. 1—5 5—15 15—25 Over 25
1949 3 35 17 2 5
1947 1 5 5 7 2
(c) No. of Deaths—1949 2 (2 yrs. and 26 years).
1947 4 (10 months, 5, 22 and 24 years).
It will be seen from the above table that there were approximately three times
as many cases in 1949 as in 1947. The maximum number occurred in September
and October, and 35 of 62 affected were between the ages of one and five years.
Many of the cases were slight and diagnosable only with difficulty, sometimes
only after special laboratory investigations were carried out whilst the patient was in
hospital. In 11 of the cases there was no paralysis at all, and in many other cases
it was anticipated that a complete recovery would eventually result.
All General Practitioners in the Borough were aware of the importance of taking
into account the possibility of Poliomyelitis, particularly in the sickness of a young
child with indefinite symptoms. A film on Poliomyelitis, specially produced for
doctors was, by arrangement with the Central Office of Information, shown in the
Borough, and the Medical Officer of Health dealt with many enquiries from
practitioners in regard to particular cases. Close touch was kept with the hospitals,
Ministry of Health and the London County Council in regard to the technical aspects
of the outbreak.
It was not thought necessary to take drastic restrictive measures such as the
enforcement of the closure of cinemas or swimming baths. So far as the Council's