View report page

14
slightest suspicion of smallpox has arisen. Useful help can now also be given by
the Virus Research Department of the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale,
which has undertaken the examination of pathological specimens in suitable cases.
Successful vaccinations:—
1947 3,345
1st January—3rd July, 1948 1,124
5th July—31st December, 1948 702
1949 1,628
1950 2,307
1951 3,291
1952 2,450
1953 3,055
(Figures from 1948 onwards kindly furnished by Divisional Medical Officer,
London County Council.)
The Vaccination Acts were rescinded under the National Health Service Act,
1946, as from 5th July, 1948.
Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation—Authentication—Ministry of Health
Circular 60/48.
The number of applications for authentication continued to increase rapidly,
and during the year the Medical Officer of Health dealt with 347 requests for
authentication of International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation against
smallpox, cholera, typhoid, etc.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
Measles and Whooping Cough became generally notifiable in London at the
end of 1939. Prior to this there was only a limited notification.
Measles.
In 1952 I reported that there had been 2,885 notifications of measles, the
second highest recorded figure in the history of the Borough. The figure for 1953
was not far short of this at 2,541. The majority of the cases were a continuation
of the second outbreak which began in the Autumn of 1952. The outbreak
remained at a continuously high level until the end of February, and the number
of notifications decreased slowly from the beginning of March to the beginning of
June, when very few cases were recorded. From then onwards measles continued
at an exceptionally low level right to the end of 1953. Taking the autumn/winter
outbreak, 1952/53 as a whole, there were 3,408 notifications of measles from October,
1952, to May, 1953, inclusive.

It was only in the most exceptional circumstances that measles cases were
removed to hospital.