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1 PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
WEATHER CONDITIONS
In the month of January very variable temperatures were experienced, snow falling on 11
days, with heavy falls on the 9th. February was the coldest for 5 years, March being dry
windy and unsettled. There were snowfalls in early April, Kew having its coldest April night on
the 8th for 30 years, whilst the 21st was the warmest April day since 1952, May was dull and
cool, and June mostly dry, with normal mean temperature.
July was mainly dry and warm, apart from scattered thunderstorms, Kew having its dullest
August since 1912 and its dullest summer for 80 years. Unsettled and thundery with heavy rain
and floods mid-month was recorded for September, whilst it was the mildest October since records
began in 1871. November was dull and very cold during the first half, but had little fog. It
was the coldest December recorded at the London Weather Centre since 1963.
LEGISLATION
The Public Health (Infective Jaundice) Regulations 1968 made this disease notifiable from
15th June.
On the 1st October, the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1968, made
under Section 56 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, came into operation,
consolidating with amendments all previous Regulations relating to the notification and
prevention of infectious disease except the Tuberculosis Regulations of 1925. The principal
changes were to make acute primary pneumonia, acute influenzal pneumonia, acute rheumatism and
puerperal pyrexia no longer notifiable, whilst tetanus, yellow fever and 1eptospirosis became
notifiable for the first time. Additionally the powers of a Medical Officer of Health to
vaccinate contacts of persons suffering from smallpox have been extended to other diseases, and
the power of a local authority to require a person to stop work in order to prevent spread of
infection are extended to permit action in cases of food poisoning.
The Medical Officer of Health has been authorised to serve notices required under the
Regulations with regard to measures to be taken by a local authority if and when cases occur of
typhus, relapsing fever, food poisoning, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES - NOTIFICATIONS
The number of notified cases of infectious disease, corrected for revised diagnoses and
duplicate notifications, was 1,197, compared with 2,265 during the previous year.
Liaison is maintained with general practitioners and hospitals in the area by a weekly
bulletin which is circulated giving them information on the number of infectious diseases
occurring intheborough during the week, the number of new claims for sickness benefit received
at local offices of the Ministry of Social Security in the area, and other relevant information
from time to time.
A summary of notifications of infectious diseases received during the year will be found
on page 90 and a list of diseases notifiable in the borough on page 89
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