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24 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1962
The following is a summary of examinations made during the
year:
Nose and throat swabs 823
Faeces and urine for the typhoid and dysentery groups 2,283
Miscellaneous specimens 10
Total 3,116
Contacts of Infectious Disease—Exclusion from work
It is sometimes considered necessary, in order to prevent the spread
of infection, to exclude from work for a period certain contacts of
infectious diseases.
This applies particularly to persons engaged in food handling and
the requisite authority for the Medical Officer of Health to exclude
such persons from work is given under regulations made under the
National Insurance Act, 1946, and the Public Health (Infectious
Disease) Regulations, 1953.
In connection with such exclusions from work, it should be noted
that since the inclusion of Section 26 in the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1959, it is now possible, if the borough council
sees fit, to compensate persons for any loss occasioned by their compliance
with the request of the Medical Officer of Health. During the
year, no case arose that necessitated action under this Act but three
contacts of infectious disease who were excluded from work were
issued with certificates enabling them to draw National Health
sickness benefit.
TUBERCULOSIS
Notifications
The total number of new cases which came to the notice of the
Department during 1962 was 320 compared with 352 in 1961.
The sources of information regarding the new cases were as
follows:
Primary notifications on Form A 192
Unnotified at death 2
Transfers from other sanitary authorities 126
Total 320
Three hundred and eighteen cases were added to the notification
register during the year and 137 cases who had removed, recovered
or died, were taken off. The number remaining on the register at the
end of the year was 6,690.