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SECTION F.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONTROL
For the first time on record there were no notifications of nonparalytic
Poliomyelitis, and the number of paralytic cases which was
only 4, is the third lowest figure of paralytic Poliomyelitis since 1943
when one case was recorded.
It may be of interest to compare the incidence to-day of other
diseases with their incidence in 1943. In this particular year there
were 261 cases of Scarlet Fever; in 1958 the number was 64 ;
Erysipelas was 18 compared with last year's figure of 5 ; Puerperal
Pyrexia 30, compared with 2 ; Whooping Cough notifications in
1943 were 39 ; last year the number was 108. The increase in
Whooping Cough dates from the period 1948-50.
In 1943 Food Poisoning was not a notifiable disease but Dysentery
was. There were 2 cases of Dysentery compared with 4 cases in 1958,
and 5 cases in 1957. The highest figures for Dysentery were in 1953
and 1954 when there were 21 and 48 cases respectively.
In 1943 there were 60 notifications of Pneumonia, compared
with 35 cases in 1958, and 292 cases of Measles compared with 146
this year. Clearly there has been a long-term reduction in the
respiratory diseases with the exception of Whooping Cough and even
here, there has been a decrease from 235 in 1956 to 153 in 1957 and
108 in 1958. The epidemic increase of Measles in 1951 and 1953 to
over 1,000 was reduced in 1957 to 751.
With regard to Poliomyelitis and Whooping Cough, it is to be
hoped that this improvement represents the turn of the tide and that
in both diseases immunisation procedures are now assisting natural
processes.
Table (1) shews that some cases of Measles and Whooping Cough
occurred in adults ; .though the majority were notified in the 5-15
years and 0-4 years groups respectively. Scarlet Fever cases were
chiefly confined to the 5-14 years group.
In the course of investigations, various specimens were sent to
the Southern Group Laboratory, Hither Green Hospital, and to the
Central Public Health Laboratory, Hither Green Hospital, and to the
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, N.W.9.
These were for the following examinations :—
faeces examination for pathogenic organisms including examination
for Bact coli Sero types
Result
New admissions to St. Hilda's
Nursery 69
2 Positive Bact coli Type 0127
1 Positive Bact coli Type 026
Investigation by Medical
Practitioners 19
Negative.
41