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An epidemic of POLIOMYELITIS, severe in comparison with
the usual incidence of this disease in Great Britain, occurred
throughout the country during the summer. There were no deaths
in Southwark, where the number of cases was amongst the lowest
in the Metropolitan area. This gratifying fact is somewhat
Inexplicable In view of the congested housing conditions in
this borough. The most intensive Investigations and careful
analyses of all salient features of each case was made, and
expert medical opinion throughout the country gave continual
attention to the many elusive circumstances of this disease,
but the method by which it is transmitted remains largely a
mystery.
In Southwark (and it is believed generally in most areas)
no two cases were reported in the same family. This, and the
fact that although close supervision of all contacts and all
possible sources of infection was maintained, no unusual
precautionary measures were taken - a procedure which seems
justified in view of the few cases in this borough - rather
indicates that the ultimate factor in this disease is a natural
immunity or susceptibility of the individual, regardless of
environmental conditions or direct contact.
MEASLES, although showing a decrease, is still
exceptionally high. An unusually large proportion of the
year's cases occurred during the last two months, following
the subsidence of the Poliomyelitis outbreak, when the
number of Measles cases in this Borough was the highest in
London. Of the gastric disturbances often associated with
Poliomyelitis, GASTRO-ENTERITIS has shown a marked increase
during the year under review, both during and outside the
notifiable period. It may perhaps bo of some interest to
compare the data above relating to these three virus diseases.
An outbreak of DYSENTERY occurred amongst children in the
Day Nurseries during February. Here again, intensive
investigations failed to reveal the source of infection.
All patients wore immediately excluded from the Nurseries,
and the utmost precautions taken to combat the complaint,
which declined within a few weeks.
Gases of Smallpox and Typhus occurred in various parts
of the country during the year but none was reported in
Southwark.
There has been a further increase in the figures for
TUBERCULOSIS, particularly Pulmonary cases which have risen
from 241 in 1946 to 269 in 1947.
The deaths from this disease, however, show very little
change in the decreased figures reported in 1946.
Pulmonary deaths totalled 77, against 74 in 1946, whilst
Non-Pulmonary deaths wore 5, compared with 8 in the previous
year.
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