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58
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 table 23—

Poliomyelitis
In 1958 2 cases of poliomyelitis were confirmed, one paralytic and
the other non-paralytic. Both cases occurred in the North and were
males. The following table gives figures for this borough over the last 12
years, the time during which the incidence has been high.

Dysentery
The number of cases almost doubled (from 129 to 214) though
even this higher figure was considerably less than the 579 cases in 1956.
The disease continued to be very mild, but when it appears in schools
it has a high nuisance value and may interfere considerably with
education.