London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Acton 1940

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]

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14
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
During the Spring of the year 14 cases of Cerebro-Spinal
Meningitis were admitted; one of these was a contact, the other
cases were severe but there was only one death. In the Autumn
a case which proved fatal was also admitted.
One of the most remarkable achievements in connection with
the disease has been the success which has been obtained in its
treatment with M & B 693, by means of which the mortality has
been materially reduced. In the last War, the mortality in some
outbreaks of the disease exceeded 50%. The bacteriological examination
of the Cerebro-Spinal fluid was done at the Ministry of
Health Regional Laboratory at Ealing.
German Measles.
31 cases of German Measles were admitted, of which 16 were
soldiers billeted in the district. Most of the cases occurred in the
early Spring. There were no deaths.
Measles.
80 cases of Measles were admitted, of which 74 were refugee
children. In the early summer, the buildings connected with the
Wembley Stadium and Wembley Pool were adapted for the reception
of refugees from Gibraltar. The children were immediately
examined there, and following a case of Measles which occurred
'on board one of the ships which carried the refugees, an outbreak
occurred amongst those accommodated at Wembley.
The refugees admitted were as follows: —
Under 1 year. 1-2 years. 2-3 years. 3-4 years.
18 19 8 6
4-5 years. 5-10 years. Over 10 years.
6 15 2
Certain aspects of the outbreak were interesting. Not only was
there no death, but with one exception there were no complications.
One of the children at the end of the second week developed a
night temperature for about 9 days, and then made an uninterrupted
recovery. All the other children recovered quickly without any
complications.