View report page

SMALLPOX
The notification of three cases of smallpox in the neighbouring Borough
of Tottenham in June 1957 necessitated close co-operation between the
Health Department there and its neighbours. 48 contacts lived in
Hornsey and arrangements were immediately made for them to be
visited by public health inspectors and kept under surveillance for a
period of 16 days. Those who had not been vaccinated recently were
advised to apply to their family doctor.
Names and addresses of contacts were notified to the family doctors,
and all medical practitioners in the Borough were kept fully informed
of the progress of the outbreak.
Surveillance of the contacts living in Hornsey entailed a considerable
amount of work for the staff of the Health Department and necessitated
many hours of overtime during particularly the first week.
A total of 268 visits were made as follows:—
No. Visits
Ambulance contacts 5 51
Hospital contacts
Staff 26 101
Patients 3 25
Visitors 3 34 32 160
Workplace 7 30
School (Teacher) 1 8
Others 3 19
Totals: 48 268
No Hornsey resident developed the disease.
INFLUENZA
The only form of influenza which is statutorily notifiable is acute
influenzal pneumonia and 36 such cases were notified.
The general outbreak of Asian influenza lasted in this borough from
mid September until late November and during this period it was
estimated that over half the absences from school were due to influenza.
A little over 25% of all school children were absent at the beginning of
October and in one school for a period of two weeks over 40% of the
scholars were absent.
In specimens taken from children at the first school to be affected,
influenza virus "A" of the Asian type was confirmed.
The number of adults certified as sick to the Ministry of Pensions and
National Insurance rose rapidly at the beginning of the outbreak and
double the normal sickness was recorded by 25th September. Two
8