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TYPHOID
No cases of typhoid fever were notified during 1972.
WHOOPING COUGH
There were 13 notifications compared with 54 during 1971. Statistics relating
to immunisation are on page 57.
TUBERCULOSIS
The number of primary notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis received during
the year was 123, the highest number since 1965. The notification rate was 0.77 per
1,000 population compared with 0.48 last year. Non-pulmonary cases notified numbered
20. The mortality rate for pulmonary tuberculosis was 10.0 per 100,000 population
compared with 4.2 in 1971.
Statistical data relating to new cases and deaths will be found on page 58.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925
These Regulations provide that persons suffering from tuberculosis ofthe respiratory
tract shall not be employed in the handling of milk or milk receptacles. Power is given
to the Council to cause such persons to discontinue their employment. It was not found
necessary to take action under the Regulations during the year.
Mass Radiography
The North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board's Unit 6A's weekly session
at Toynbee Hall continues to operate.
I am indebted to the Medical Director and Organising Secretary for the information
given on the work of the Unit which will be found on page 59.
B.C.G. Vaccination
The numbers of persons vaccinated during the year,under the Council's scheme
for the B.C.G. vaccination of susceptible (tuberculin negative) child contacts of
known tuberculous patients, diabetic children, thirteen-year old schoolchildren,
students at further education establishments and mentally subnormal persons at training
centres, are shown in Table 15 on page 59.
Other Preventive Measures
In addition to the B.C.G. vaccination scheme, other preventive measures include
the chest X-ray of all newly appointed staff and a triennial X-ray of those who are
likely to work in close and frequent contact with children, staff at the Council's
training centres for mentally subnormal persons and tuberculin reactors discovered
among thirteen-year old schoolchildren, students and others tested with a view to
B.C.G. vaccination.
Epidemiological investigations are made among the contacts of cases of tuberculosis
notified in children, staff or residents in the Council's establishments. Similar
investigations are carried out at secondary schools where the reactor rates disclosed by
tuberculin surveys are significantly higher them the average for secondary schools in the
area.
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