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63
The work of the infectious disease visitors as agents of the medical
officer of health includes the investigation of home conditions, the giving
of advice to patients and contacts, particularly where the patient is left
at home, and in general the taking of such measures as may be necessary
to combat the spread of infection.
The following is a summary of the work in visiting infectious diseases
carried out during the year which is in addition to the visits paid by the
public health inspectors referred to in table26:-

Poliomyelitis
In 1957 15 cases of poliomyelitis were confirmed and of these 5
were paralytic and 10 non-paralytic. The distribution over the
borough was 9 in the west, 5 in the north and 1 in the south divisions.
11 were males and 4 females. The following table gives figures for
this borough over the last 11 years, the time during which the incidence
has been high.

1957 proved to be a year of small incidence of this disease and in fact
there has been no lower annual figure of cases occurring in the borough
to borough residents since 1951. Vaccination against poliomyelitis was
carried out through the County Council, and the local response was
stated to be satisfactory. It is hoped however that a much larger number
of children will be protected during the early part of 1958.