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Poliomyelitis
Following a year of unusually low incidence in 1954 the number of notifications
in 1955 (960) was the highest to date. In other respects however the 1955 epidemic
was less severe than those of 1947, 1949 and 1950. The first epidemic focus appeared
early in the summer in Stepney and Poplar. Later the heaviest incidence was in SouthEast
London. A study of the age distribution of the notifications shows that whereas
the percentage in the 0-5 years age group remained roughly at the level of previous
years there was an increase in the percentage at school ages at the expense of the over
15 years age group. During the year instances of multiple cases in schools were more
frequently reported than in previous years, particularly in the areas of high incidence.
Towards the end of the year a survey of all notified cases was made with a view to
estimating the number of children who would require special educational facilities as
a result of residual paralysis. This revealed that although the proportion of paralytic
cases was less than in previous large epidemics the percentage of paralytic cases which
were assessed as mild, moderate or severe were roughly similar to those in previous
epidemics. The number of deaths from poliomyelitis was 26 compared with figures
of 49, 50, and 36 in 1947, 1949 and 1950. The reasons for this apparent mildness are
uncertain. As stated earlier the ratio of non-paralytic to paralytic notifications was
higher than usual. It is not known whether this was due to the possible existence of an
epidemic of a mild neurological infection of unknown origin running concurrently
with the poliomyelitis epidemic, or to an increased thoroughness in the diagnosis of
non-paralytic poliomyelitis. There is evidence that the latter suggestion at least was
operative in 1955. The Medical Officer of Health of Lewisham has drawn attention to
the fact that the notifications in his Borough are unfairly loaded by the large number of
cases admitted from other Boroughs to an infectious diseases hospital in Lewisham and
first notified from that hospital. That such notifications are not finally registered in the
area of residence is an anomaly in the notification system which it is hoped can be
rectified. Until that time it should be known that the use of notification figures in the
different Boroughs may lead to erroneous conclusions.

By the time that this report is published the British poliomyelitis vaccine will have
been in use, but no vaccine was given during 1955.
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