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Poliomyelitis
A death was reported during the year of a 43 year old Islington male with cause
of death given as:-
(a) Uraemia
(b) Calculous pyleonephritis
(c) Acute exacerbation of chronic pyleonephritis
(2) Bulbo-spinal paralytic poliomyelitis
This person was one of the unfortunate victims of the 1959 Polio Outbreak, in
which there were 109 reported cases, 60 of whom were subsequently confirmed. Six of
these died.
An extract on this subject from Dr. Freeman's Annual Report of the former
Metropolitan Borough of Islington informs us that:-
"In the spring of 1959, cases of poliomyelitis were reported which heralded
the beginning of an outbreak which was extremely local in character, particularly
in the early stages, which rose to a crescendo within a few weeks of the first
reported cases, and then gradually eased off, so that the outbreak, as such, could
be considered over by August.
The total number of cases was. unfortunately the highest experienced since 1949
which with 62 cases is the highest on record for the Borough.
Seven of the cases had had two Poliomyelitis inoculations at
some time prior to onset, and were therefore presumed to have some degree of
immunity, but not sufficient for complete protection. Since it was estimated that
approximately half of the Children under fifteen years at the period of the outbreak
had been immunised (with two, but not three injections), it was apparent that
there were many more cases in those who had not been immunised than in those
immunised, and this gives some measure of protection afforded even with two
inoculations. Of the fatal cases, none had had any poliomyelitis vaccine
inoculations."
Looking back, it is of interest to note that this was the last major outbreak of
Poliomyelitis in the Metropolitan Borough of Islington, and there can now be no doubt
that vaccination with both the Salk vaccine given by injection, and the Sabin vaccine
given orally, have been responsible for this local elimination of Poliomyelitis.
Continued immunisation and regular health publicity stressing its advisability
will be necessary if this situation is to be safeguarded.
Whooping Cough Investigation
It was agreed in conjunction with the Public Health Laboratory Service to
investigate the effectiveness of whooping cough vaccines in preventing or modifying
pertussis. There had been some recent indications that the antigenic specificity of
the vaccines in use might require further consideration.
Arrangements were therefore made that, until further notice, during the course of
the domiciliary enquiries following notification of a case of whooping cough, a
pernasal or postmasal swab should be taken for culture and antigenic analysis by the
Public Health Laboratory Service. The Laboratory forwarded a copy of the report in
each case to the practitioner concerned.
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