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Tuberculosis—Epidemiological investigations
During the year, investigations were carried out at three schools
in Wandsworth, details of which will be found in the School
Health Section of this report.
Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers (Enteric fever)
No cases of typhoid fever were reported, but two cases of paratyphoid
fever were investigated. The first case was an adult
male who had not been abroad in recent years; the source of
infection was not traced. A total of 19 faecal and urine specimens
were examined. The other case was a young woman who had been
travelling abroad for some time and had been taken ill whilst
abroad. On arrival in this country she was admitted to hospital
where all the necessary investigations were undertaken.
Whooping cough
There was a noticeable decrease in the number of cases reported
—68 as against 223 in 1970—as was to be expected in view of the
tendency of this disease to show an unusually high incidence every
fourth year.
Bacteriological examinations
Bacteriological examination of stools and other specimens in
connection with food poisoning and infectious disease was carried
out by the Joint Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory at
St. George's Hospital, Tooting, and 1,828 specimens were examined
during the year :—
Stool and urine 1,599
Nose and throat swabs 229
International certificates of vaccination against smallpox
Persons travelling abroad to certain specified countries are
required to possess a certificate of vaccination bearing the authenticating
stamp of the local authority of the area in which they were
vaccinated. The trend shown in recent years for an increasing
number of persons to require such certificates was reversed in
1971 when only 8,879 requests were received, 2,547 less than in
1970. This reflected the outstanding success of the global World
Health Organisation Smallpox Eradication Campaign which has
led to more and more countries becoming free from this dangerous
infection.
Occasional requests are made by persons proposing to travel
abroad for a certificate to the effect that no recent cases of smallpox
have occurred in the area where they reside. In 1971 no such
applications were received.