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Infectious Diseases in School Children, 1962
An epidemic of rubella (German measles) affected the Area
during the first three quarters of 1962. This was part of an epidemic
which affected the whole country. Rubella is not a notifiable disease
and the magnitude of the epidemic came to light because of the
unprecedented demand for gamma-globulin. This is a blood product
which is used for protecting the foetus from the congenital abnormalities
frequently caused when the expectant mother contracts the disease
during the first three months of pregnancy.
Dysentery
There were 35 cases of dysentery, all of the Sonne variety in
the Area during the year. This is an increase on the previous
year's figures but does not give cause for alarm.
Tuberculosis
Three cases of pulmonary and two cases of non-pulmonary
tuberculosis were notified during 1962. In one case of pulmonary
disease the source of infection was not clear and epidemiological
investigations were conducted at the school. 37 pupils in the child's
class were skin tested and the class teacher was X-rayed, and it was
ascertained that the source of the infection did not lie in the school,
nor had any other children in the class contracted the disease.
Poliomyelitis and Diphtheria
No cases of these diseases ooccurred in 1962, a matter for
encouragement and no doubt mainly due to vigorous immunisation programmes
carried out in the past and continued equally energetically
each year.
B.C.G. Vaccination
Close co-operation was maintained with the Directors of the
Chest Clinics at Tottenham and at Hornsey. It is interesting to
note that the acceptance rate of 75.7% compares very favourably with
the overall acceptance rate for the country which, in 1961, was 68%.
Similarly in the country as a whole the percentage positive to the
pre-vaccination tuberculin test was 14.3 (in 1961), in the Area this
figure was 7.7%.
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