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INFECTIOUS DISEASES
MEASLES
The epidemic of measles followed the usual pattern: 1,106 cases
being notified during the year, over 90% of which occurred by the middle
of May. The notified cases were mainly children between the ages of
5 and 10 years who had commenced school since the previous epidemic
in 1955 and younger children in the same households; only 37 patients
were over 10 years of age. The disease was evenly spread throughout
the borough.
Fifteen children were admitted to hospital and the total number of
complicated cases was three; all made uneventful recoveries. There
were no deaths from the disease.
POLIOMYELITIS
Seven cases of paralytic poliomyelitis were notified during the year,
and one without paralysis. The latter a baby girl of 2 years made an
uneventful recovery.
An adult patient with severe bulbar paralytic poliomyelitis died after
seven months in hospital. Of the other six cases five still had some degree
of residual paralysis at the end of the year as follows:—
A baby of 7 months (on admission to hospital) paralysed from the
waist down and there is little prospect of appreciable improvement.
A woman of 39 years with paralysis in right hand and both arms;
still under treatment at the end of the year.
A boy of 16 years with moderate weakness in his left arm especially
around shoulder girdle.
A housewife of 28 years; lower trunk and both legs affected; able to
walk only with crutches; leg muscles very weak.
A boy of 13 years; mild to moderate weakness in both legs. Has
improved sufficiently to attend school and do light physical training.
A woman of 30 years with paralysis in both legs: showing steady
improvement.
The limited scheme for vaccination against poliomyelitis was extended
during the year. A note on this is included on page 68.
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