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Infectious Disease
The health risks from infectious diseases are rapidly being reduced. Diphtheria is,
of course, now rare, and there was not a single case in the Borough last year. With
active immunisation against Poliomyelitis now well under way, this infection seems to be
going in the same direction and there were only two cases during the year, whilst
notifications of Whooping Cough are probably not entirely complete, the fact that there
were only 51, which is a new low record, also speaks for itself, since this is another
infection which is subject to immunisation control. Measles cannot yet be dealt with by
immunisation, but after the peak incidence of 1961, there were many fewer cases in 1962.
Sonne Dysentery and Pood Poisoning continue to be endemic, but are associated with faulty
hygiene at some stage. Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers are still to be reckoned with,
although modern treatment has diminished the risk if infection should occur, The Enteric
infections are still fairly prevalent in Mediterranean countries, and easy and frequent
travel to those regions makes occasional cases in this country almost unaviodable, apart
from risks from other sources. Reference is made in the Report to precautions taken in
respect of possible or suspected Smallpox contacts, although fortunately, there were no
cases in the borough Smallpox control measures at airports have now been strengthened
by the requirement of vaccination certificates. Tuberculosis of the lungs which is
slowly diminishing each year, is still nevertheless the major infectious disease with
nearly 300 new cases.
Respiratory Disease
Other major health problems which are or should be, subject to some control even
within our present knowledge, will have to be faced over the next few years. 1962 was
perhaps notable for the publication of the Report of the Royal College of Physicians on
smoking and health, which gave wider publicity to this subject than at any time
previously, with discussions In Parliament, in the press, and through broadcasting media.
The evidence that there is a causal connection between long continued cigarette smoking
and the occurrence of lung cancer, is authoritative, accepted by the Government and
hardly disputed. Over the past few, years, between 160 and 180 Islington residents have
died from lung cancer each year, approximately 80% of them being males. In the country
as a whole, lung cancer is responsible for more deaths than all the fatalities from home
and road accidents combined, and yet, the evidence which has not been contrcvjrted so
far, shows that the simple avoidance of cigarette smoking is the only preventive measure
necessary to obviate the risk of 90% of lung cancer cases. The Ministry of Health in
conjunction with the local authorities, proposed additional publicity measures during
1962 Other major health risks are also respiratory in type. Bronchitis and Pneumonia
account for a high proportion of the total mortality between them, approximately 400 a
year Cigarette smoking is also a major factor in bronchitis, but pollution of the air
with smoke is also important. This is being tackled in Islington by the increasing number
of smoke control areas in the borough, where the production of smoke through the burning
of raw coal is no longer permitted.
Housing
Reference was made in the 1961 Annual Report to the Housing Act, 1961 the main
provisions of which dealt with houses in multiple occupation and these of course
comprise the majority of houses in the Borough. In the Housing Section of this Report
mention is made of a survey under the Act which was carried out during the year covering
over 500 individual houses and flats. Whilst this survey provided valuable information
it became apparent that practical problems were likely to arise in connection with the
recovery of costs if work in default was done by the Council. The Report also mentions
that the Minister of Housing and Local Government confirmed Clearance Area Orders under
the Housing Act, 1957, in respect of 44 houses in Pluyford Road 10 houses in Elmore
Street and 8 houses in Lonsdale Place.
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