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II PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
WEATHER CONDITIONS
The year began cold and foggy, January then becoming mild and wet with whirlwinds
reported in East London on one day, February was mainly dry and mild, snowfalls
occurring in March and April It was the sunniest May in London for 28 years,whilst
June saw record high rainfalls, July was unusually dry. August being dull and unsettled„
It was a mainly dry September with sunshine records being broken in October and
November, The year ended with an unusually warm December,
INFECTIOUS DISEASES - NOTIFICATIONS
The number of notified cases of infectious disease, corrected for revised diagnoses
and duplicate notifications was 619 compared with 1,619 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 numbers of infectious
diseases occurring in the borough 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 76 and a list of diseases notifiable in the borough on page 75-
ANTHRAX
No case of anthrax was reported during the year.
CANCER
Of a total of 567 deaths from cancer occurring this year 178 were due to cancer
of the lung The death rate of lung cancer was 1.08 per 1,000 population, an increase
of 50% since 1965-
CHOLERA
Owing to outbreaks of cholera in areas of Southern Europe during the year,
information was received from Port Health Authorities of 90 persons, mainly holidaymakers,
who had entered the country without International Vaccination Certificates.
These persons were kept under surveillance for the incubation period and in some
instances faecal specimens were taken when there had been a history of agastrioi
d i sorde r„
DIPHTHERIA
No cases of diphtheria were notified during the year,
DYSENTERY
Notified cases of dysentery total led 39, compared with 36 during the previous year.
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