View report page

Specimens of blood, faeces and urine taken from all other contacts were negative and their medical
practitioners informed. A family comprising six persons who were residential contacts moved to another
borough on 31st October before specimens could be obtained, and the medical officer of health of the
borough concerned was informed.
There were five other references to the department concerning typhoid or query typhoid cases from
other boroughs, etc., of contacts who resided or worked in Islington, all with satisfactory conclusions.
SUSPECTED DIPHTHERIA
Information was received regarding a 5-years-old school girl who was admitted to an isolation
hospital on 1st June, 1972, with a three day history of cold, sore throat and listlessness. It was reported
that the child had been immunised against diphtheria in 1971. On examination at the hospital a brownish
exudate on both tonsils was observed which was difficult to scrape off and at this stage it was thought she
could be an atypical diphtheria.
Enquiries were made and particulars of contacts, including class contacts, obtained. However, as all
further tests for diphtheria were negative and a final diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was made, it
became unnecessary to proceed any further. After two days the child's health improved, she remained
apyrexial and was discharged on 9th June.
DYSENTERY
There were 123 cases notified and 'coming to knowledge' during the year. Of these, 104 proved
positive whilst nineteen were clinical cases with negative stools.
Roughly two-thirds of these were isolated cases, the remainder comprising outbreaks at two day
nurseries and a homeless families unit.
TUBERCULOSIS

The notification rate of all forms of tuberculosis was 0.51 per 1,000 population as against 0.23 for
the whole country.

There were 9 tuberculosis deaths (6 pulmonary, 3 other forms) during 1972. The death rate of all
forms of tuberculosis in the borough, per 1,000 population was 0.05, the national rate being 0.03.
22