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with 493 in 1970. Patients and contacts were given medicinal baths and their clothing
disinfected at the Council's cleansing station. The number of baths given was 581.
Although scabies ceased to be a notifiable disease on 1st April, 1965, by the
co-operation of the genera] practitioners and hospitals information is forwarded to
the Health Department of persons suffering from the condition, and arrangements made
for follow-up by home visits to ensure that the patients and their contacts receive
treatment at the Council's cleansing stations.
SCARLET FEVER
There were 50 confirmed cases notified, compared with 48 dur ing 1970.
SMALLPOX
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year although the advice of the
Medical Officer of Health was sought by general practitioners in some instances where
the disease was suspected.
Notifications are occasionally received from port and airport authorities of
persons coming into the bo rough who may have been in contact withsmal1 pox. Observation
is kept on such persons by officers of the Health Department for the necessary period.
The number of persons successfully vaccinated or revaccinated against smallpox
at the Council's clinics and by general practitioners during the year was 1266.
In July the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security
issued a Circular in which was stated that the following advice of the Joint Committee
on Vaccination and Immunisation had been accepted.
(1) Vaccination against smallpox need not now be recommended as a routine
procedure in early childhood;
(2) all travellers to and from areas of the world where smallpox is endemic
or countries where eradication programmes are in progress should be
protected by recent vaccination;
(3) heal th se rv ice staf f who come into cont act w it h pat ien ts should be offered
vaccination and regular re-vaccination.
TYPHOID
There were two typhoid cases notified during 1971. One was in the case of a
man of 40 years, who had spent two years hitch-rhiking in Asia, Africa and Europe.
He became ill while in prance and was diagnosed as a case of typhoid fever on his
return to this country a few days later. He made a satisfactory recovery aftertreatment
in hospital .
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