London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Poliomyelitis
The poliomyelitis epidemic was not of large proportions. At no time did the weekly
notification exceed 30. There were 12 fatal cases. The age distribution (see following
table) remained roughly as it has been during the last three years. Particulars of vaccination
against poliomyelitis may be found at page 72.
Table (x)—Poliomyelitis notifications by age, 1947-57
| Year | 0-4 years | 5-14 | years | 15 years | and over | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | 0/ /o | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1947 | 196 | 27.9 | 257 | 36.6 | 249 | 35.5 | 702 | 100.0 |
| 1948 | 47 | 33.3 | 43 | 30.5 | 51 | 36.2 | 141 | 100.0 |
| 1949 | 356 | 53.3 | 173 | 25.9 | 139 | 20.8 | 668 | 100.0 |
| 1950 | 150 | 34.9 | 149 | 34.6 | 131 | 30.5 | 430 | 100.0 |
| 1951 | 27 | 24.1 | 45 | 40.2 | 40 | 35.7 | 112 | 100.0 |
| 1952 | 95 | 30.7 | 105 | 34.0 | 109 | 35.3 | 309 | 100.0 |
| 1953 | 116 | 35.0 | 104 | 31.3 | 112 | 33.7 | 332 | 100.0 |
| 1954 | 42 | 33.6 | 41 | 32.8 | 42 | 33.6 | 125 | 100.0 |
| 1955 | 334 | 34.8 | 391 | 40.7 | 235 | 24.5 | 960 | 100.0 |
| 1956 | 88 | 31.5 | 115 | 41.2 | 76 | 27.3 | 279 | 100.0 |
| 1957 | 103 | 31.8 | 131 | 40.4 | 90 | 27.8 | 324 | 100.0 |
Whooping
cough
There were 3,982 notifications of whooping cough, this being the lowest figure for
12 years. Mortality was the lowest ever recorded, there being only one death. It is
not possible to say to what extent this favourable experience is the result of widespread
immunisation against this disease.
18