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84
perhaps 25 percent — of those with infectious disease are not known
and are not under any form of supervision or treatment. The need
for highly efficient case-finding services is thus obvious, especially in
the light of the increasingly effective forms of treatment that can now
be offered."
Immunisation against infectious disease
The Ministry of Health issued a circular (15/52) with regard to a
further publicity campaign in connection with diphtheria prophylaxis.
The circular stresses the importance of cooperation between the
borough council and the county council as local health authority.
Cases of diphtheria (corrected for diagnosis) show a continuing decrease,
from 23,000 for England and Wales in 1944 to 699 last year and deaths
during the same period have decreased from 934 to 34. However, in
spite of these good figures, it is considered essential to secure that not
less than 75 percent of babies are immunised before their first birthday.
Over 140,000 fewer children in the 0 to 5 age group were immunised
in 1950 than in 1949, indicating that even after allowing for the lower
birthrate there is a great deal of ground to be recovered. The circular
therefore urges the need for an intensive effort to achieve the level of
immunisation necessary to secure full benefit of the campaign. If
parents leave their children unprotected there may be a return of
diphtheria outbreaks. It is consequently considered that sustained
publicity is necessary to make parents realise that diphtheria is still a
dangerous disease and that their children should be given protection
against it, through immunisation.
Although the provision of an immunisation service is the responsibility
of the London county council, the Lewisham borough council
is always willing to assist the county council in the dissemination of
propaganda and in any other way which will secure the immunisation
of the maximum number of children.
I am indebted to the Divisional Medical Officer of the London
county council for the information on which the following table is
based:—