View report page

ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS.
A serious outbreak of this disease occurred during the summer and
autumn.
The first case in Beckenham occurred on May 7th. Enquiries
were not able to establish any likely source of infection. In most
years a few sporadic cases of this disease are notified and it is seldom
possible to discover whence the infections come. For three weeks,
no further cases occurred ; then, in the fourth week, two more cases
were notified. These cases were not in direct contact with each
other, but there seemed to be a possible common source of infection
through a child who had suspicious symptoms, but who did not at
any time show any signs of paralysis.
Soon after this, it became clear that, although unusually early in
the season, a widespread outbreak of the disease was developing in
all parts of the country. So far as Beckenham was concerned, in the
earlier weeks the infection was confined to those parts of the Borough
bordering on Lewisham, Penge and Croydon: later on it extended
into most parts of the Borough.
The medical practitioners in the district were informed of the
situation and their assistance was sought in detecting " abortive "
cases of the disease : (an "abortive" case is a case which shows many
of the early symptoms of the disease, but which does not develop any
form of paralysis). This assistance was generously given and many
suspicious cases were isolated.
The Saturday morning performance for children at one Cinema
was discontinued for a month, and one Day Nursery in which a case
had occurred was closed for three weeks: apart from these, no widespread
methods of closure were adopted. It was considered to be
neither wise nor necessary to close schools, cinemas or the Public
Baths : this view was subsequently confirmed by Medical Officers
of the Ministry of Health at a conference of Medical Officers of Health
held in London. The incidence of the disease reached its peak in
Beckenham in August : and only one case occurred after the end of
September.
There is no easy " short-cut " available to bring an outbreak of
this disease to a speedy and dramatic ending. Wholesale closure of
schools, cinemas, etc., only tends to cause " panic " and contributes
nothing to the effort to control the outbreak. At such a time there
must always be anxiety, particularly in homes where there are young
children. Advice to parents to avoid crowded assemblies, and to