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15
Whooping Cough Prophylaxis.
Whooping cough immunisation is carried out in the local Health Authority
Clinics and by general practitioners. The Divisional Medical Officer has kindly
made available the following information in regard to Islington children:—
Whooping cough Prophylaxis
Total attendances 6,374
Completed cases 2,045
London (Measles and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1938.

Acute Poliomyelitis
1955 must be counted as a poliomyelitis year, with 56 confirmed cases, out of
97 reported. This is the second highest number of confirmed cases recorded in the
borough, being exceeded only in 1949, when there were 62. The first significant
increase during the year was in July, rising to a peak in September, and cases were
reported right through the autumn until December, an exceptionally high proportion
(12 out of the total 56), being adults over the age of 25 years. The Islington
outbreak was in accordance with the general trend in the country.
In the early part of the period, i.e. in July and August, the majority of the
cases were very mild and, in fact, not easy to confirm as definite cases of poliomyelitis.
For example, of eleven confirmed cases in July and August, only two developed
paralysis. During September, however, the position changed, and of fifteen confirmed
cases, thirteen had varying degrees of paralysis, two children had to be treated in iron
lungs, and in the early part of October, one adult male, aged 30 years, unfortunately
died.
Medical Practitioners in the area were kept informed of the progress of the
outbreak and certain types of non-urgent operations and inoculation procedures were
deferred.