London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Southwark 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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137
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The year 1938 has been a Measles year in consequence of which 2,071
cases were notified with a mortality of 11.
Since the institution of a Measles control system by the London
County Council whereby there is close co-operation between this Council
and the Borough Council, through the School Medical Service and the
Borough's Maternity and Child Welfare Services, the number of deaths
from Measles has been greatly reduced from the alarming proportion
which formerly prevailed.
Apart from Measles, the number of cases of other common infectious
diseases as compared with previous years remained more or less of an
average.
During the year, owing to the successful results obtained by Measles
control, similar control methods were decided upon for Whooping Cough.
Accordingly, Whooping Cough became notifiable in this Borough on
the 1st October, 1938.
SMALLPOX. During the year under review no cases were notified. The number of cases notified during the last five years is as follows:—
| 1934 | 22 | 1937 | — |
| 1935 | — | 1938 | — |
| 1936 | — |
SCARLET FEVER.
Three hundred and forty cases of this disease were notified during
the year. The annual death-rate per 1,000 population for England and
Wales was 0.01; for London, 0.01; and for Southwark, 0.01.
The number of cases notified and the number of deaths during the last five years were as follows:—
| Notified. | Deaths. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 748 | 5 | |
| 1935 | 513 | 2 | |
| 1936 | 352 | — | |
| 1937 | 308 | — | |
| 1938 | 340 | 1 |