London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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Diphtheria
Cases and Deaths 1932 - 1964
| Year | Notified Cases | Deaths | Year | Notified Cases | Confirmed Cases | Deaths | Year | Notified Cases | Confirmed Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 601 | 20 | 1944 | 94 | 38 | 2 | 1955 | 9 | 1 | – |
| 1933 | 551 | 33 | 1945 | 86 | 45 | 3 | 1956 | 8 | 2 | – |
| 1934 | 815 | 32 | 1946 | 137 | 50 | _ | 1957 | 9 | 1 | – |
| 1935 | 760 | 13 | 1947 | 72 | 19 | 1 | 1958 | 6 | 2 | – |
| 1936 | 583 | 31 | 1948 | 44 | 7 | – | 1959 | 48 | 9 | – |
| 1937 | 623 | 20 | 1949 | 55 | 17 | 2 | 1960 | 4 | – | – |
| 1938 | 595 | 23 | 1950 | 50 | 19 | 1 | 1961 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 1939 | 254 | 10 | 1951 | 43 | 17 | 1 | 1962 | _ | – | – |
| 1940 | 101 | 2 | 1952 | 23 | – | _ | 1963 | 16 | 6 | – |
| 1941 | 174 | 11 | 1953 | 12 | 1 | _ | 1964 | _ | – | – |
| 1942 | 201 | 2 | 1954 | 6 | 1 | _ | ||||
| 1943 | 188 | 9 |
There were no notified or confirmed cases of Diphtheria in Islington in 1964.
This of course, extremely gratifying and although it may now be said that
diphtheria is a comparatively rare disease, it will only remain so if the greater
majority of children continue to be immunised. Even so, however, we can expect an
occasional limited outbreak as was experienced in 1963 and this should certainly
indicate that immunisation against the infection cannot be relaxed.
Diphtheria Immunisation, 1964
Dr. Wilfrid G. Harding, Divisional Medical Officer, London County Council, has
kindly supplied the following figures in respect of Islington for the current year.
As immunity tends to wane with the passage of time, the Immunity Index relates
only to children who have been inoculated during the last 5 years by general
practitioners, and in L.C.C. Welfare Centres and Schools. This is consonant with
the Immunity Index given by the Ministry of Health.
Age at 31.12,64 Under 1 1-4
i.e. born in year 1964 1963 - 60
Last complete course
(whether primary or
boost) 1960 - 64 2,254 15,982
Mid-year population 5,570 16,430
Immunity Index 40.4 97.3
Food Poisoning
Number of notifications received
1947 7 1953
1948 10 1954
1949 55 1955
1950 104 1956
1951 148 1957
1952 58 1958
243 1959 164
104 1960 131
294 1961 119
141 1982 67
150 1963 103
183 1964 88