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12
Diphtheria.
Two notifications of diphtheria were received and the patients
removed to hospital, but the diagnosis was not confirmed. This is the
third year in succession in which the City has been free from this disease.
It must be emphasised, however, that this freedom must not give rise
to complacency or lessening of vigilance. The need for protecting their
infants by immunization cannot be too strongly impressed on the
parents. Diphtheria was until recently a terrible scourge in this country,
and it may reappear.
Facilities for immunization are available at all the child welfare
clinics in the City.
Dysentery.
Notification was received of 181 confirmed cases of dysentery during
the year as compared with 47 last year. The increase is largely accounted
for by outbreaks in children attending the three day nurseries in Westminster
and also to a lesser extent by a comparatively large number
of sporadic cases for which no common source could be found. The
majority of cases were of a mild nature and it was only found necessary
to remove 19 cases to hospital.
Measles.
493 cases of measles were notified in the City during the year as
compared with 781 in 1952. There were no deaths from this disease.
Poliomyelitis.
Nine confirmed cases of poliomyelitis occurred during the year as
compared with ten confirmed cases last year. Four of these cases were
paralytic and five non-paralytic. Of the four paralytic cases, three were
under 15 months of age. There were no cases in the first or last quarters
of the year; and no deaths.
Psittacosis.
One confirmed case of psittacosis occurred in Westminster during
the year. It was ascertained that the patient, who recovered completely,
owned a budgerigar and that one week before admission to hospital,
she had visited bird stalls in another part of London. As her own
budgerigar was apparently healthy and was not known to have suffered
from any recent illness, the infection was probably derived from the
latter source.
The Minister of Health was informed of the case and the patient
advised as to the steps to be taken regarding her own bird.