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The notification of infectious diseases fell in 1968 due to a sharp diminution in the
cases of measles, which amounted to 334 as against 2694 in the previous year. It is
pleasing to see that no cases of either diphtheria or poliomyelitis occurred in the Borough.
Dysentery
In January there was an outbreak of sonne dysentery at a children's residential home
when 11 cases occurred. The home was inspected, advice given on hygienic measures
to prevent the spread of infection, and investigations made in an effort to determine the
source of infection.
A further outbreak occurred in April when 35 cases occurred in a hostel for homeless
families. This was contained, but involved a considerable amount of work and was not
finally resolved until June.
In both outbreaks all the cases made a satisfactory recovery.
Typhoid Fever
One sporadic case occurred in a 30 year old Italian woman on returning from a
holiday in Italy. She became ill and was admitted to Coppetts Wood Hospital on 20th
September, 1968 where salmonella typhi was isolated on blood culture. Her three
children who had accompanied her on holiday were tested for this 'organism but were
found to be negative in this respect. It is however of interest to record that all three
were found to be symptomless carriers of shigella sonnei. All known contacts were
traced and the Medical Officers of Health for the areas in which they lived were notified.
No related cases were found.
Public Health Act, 1936, Sections 169 and 170 — Removal and Detention in Hospital of
Persons Suffering from a Notifiable Disease
Under this Act it became necessary to remove and detain in hospital a man suffering
from open tuberculosis. The patient in question was in urgent need of treatment which he
persistently refused. This man's circumstances were such that proper precautions to
prevent the spread of infection were not being taken and I felt that serious risk of
infection was thereby caused to other persons in the Borough; regrettably, therefore, a
Magistrate's Order was obtained to compel him to submit himself for hospital treatment,
but fortunately once in hospital he readily settled down.
I am pleased to say that the patient responded to treatment.