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14
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1953
Measles
The number of cases notified during the year was 2,850, compared
with 2,290 in 1952, 4,299 in 1951, and 1,720 in 1950.
Acute Poliomyelitis
Seventy-three cases of this disease were notified or reported during
the year, of which 46 were subsequently not confirmed. Of the
remaining 27 confirmed cases, 19 were of the paralytic type and 8
non-paralytic. Two of the paralytic cases died.
In 1952, 39 cases were confirmed, with five deaths.
Acute Encephalitis
Of nine cases investigated, two were confirmed.
Meningococcal Infection
Five confirmed cases were notified. There were two deaths.
Fifteen other cases were investigated, but were subsequently not
confirmed.
In the previous year there were seven cases with one death.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
Of seven cases reported during the year, four were subsequently
confirmed as typhoid and one as paratyphoid. Diagnosis was not
confirmed in the remaining two cases. There were no deaths.
Puerperal Pyrexia
During the year 182 cases were notified, of which 172 occurred in
hospital and 10 at home. Fifty-eight of the hospital notifications
referred to patients whose home addresses were outside the borough.
Information was also received of 40 cases, referring to Wandsworth
residents whose confinements took place in hospitals located
in other Metropolitan boroughs.