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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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As a result of scrutiny of the clinical and virological findings, a final diagnosis was made
in respect of each notification. The diagnosis of paralytic poliomyelitis was made on clinical
grounds, although virological confirmation was obtained in the majority of cases. A diagnosis
of non-paralytic poliomyelitis was made only in cases in which poliomyelitis virus was
present on the stool, or when serological evidence supported the diagnosis. Table (ii) gives
an analysis of the original notifications according to the final diagnosis.
Table (ii)-
| Final diagnosis | Notified as paralytic | Notified as non-paralytic | Total (all ages) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 years | 5-14 years | 15+ years | Total | 0-4 years | 5-14 years | 15+ years | Total | ||
| Paralytic | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | - | - | - | - | 16 |
| Non-paralytic | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Not poliomyelitis | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | 23 |
Of the 19 cases notified as paralytic, three proved to be not polio and of the four cases
notified as non-paralytic, one was not poliomyelitis.
In the 16 cases finally diagnosed as paralytic poliomyelitis, the numbers vaccinated with
one, two, three or four doses of poliomyelitis vaccine and not vaccinated were as follows:
Table (iii)—
| Age | Vaccinated | Not vaccinated | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| (a) Paralytic cases 0-4 years | - | - | 6 | 100 | 6 | 100 |
| 5-14 „ | - | - | 3 | 100 | 3 | 100 |
| 15+ | 2 | 29 | 5 | 71 | 7 | 100 |
| Total | 2 | 12 | 14 | 88 | 16 | 100 |
| (b) Non-paralytic cases 0-4 years | 1 | 50 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 100 |
| 5-14 „ | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15+ „ | 1 | 100 | - | - | 1 | 100 |
| Total | 2 | 67 | 1 | 33 | 3 | 100 |
Of the two vaccinated cases with the paralytic form of the disease (both over 15 years
of age), one had received two injections and one had had three injections. In the nonparalytic
cases, one had received three injections and the other case four injections.
It is estimated that by the end of the year about 70 per cent. of children aged six months14
years had received three injections or doses of poliomyelitis vaccine and 40 per cent.
of the eligible schoolchildren (5-12 years) had had a fourth injection. Applying the figure
of 70 per cent. to the child population at risk gives the following incidence rates for the
paralytic form of the disease:
Population Cases per
6 months-14 years Cases million at risk
Vaccinated 417,000 — —
Not vaccinated 179,000 9 50
17
B*