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62
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
General.
During the year 1956, notifications of infectious disease,
excluding tuberculosis, were very low, only 790 notifications being
received as against 1,896 in the previous year. The main reason
for the difference was the big drop in the prevalence of measles.
Other variations which have occurred during the year include
a reduction in the number of cases of acute anterior poliomyelitis,
and an increase in whoopinj cough, scarlet fever and dysentery.
The overall picture is one of a continued decline in what might
almost be called the traditional infectious diseases and this decline
is shown not only in lessened numbers but what is even more
important, in decreased virulence. The latter point is underlined
when it is considered that only 60 cases in all. of the notified
illnesses, were treated in hospitals.
One of the outstanding features of the year was the introduction,
on a small scale, of the County Council's scheme for
vaccination against acute anterior poliomyelitis. It is much too
early to attempt to judge the efficacy of this new preventive measure
but high hopes are held out for the future and research is
continuing in methods of preventing a disease which quite naturally
produces so much public anxiety.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.
During the past year five cases were notified and confirmed,
as against thirteen confirmed cases in 1955. In addition to these
five, two other cases occurred, but these were admitted to hospitals
outside the area before diagnosis was made.
Of the five cases, of which all were removed to hospital, three
were adults (all paralytic) and two children of school age (one
paralytic and one non-paralytic). All of these have since made a
good recovery.
Many other suspected cases were brought to our attention and
investigated but these subsequently proved to be other illnesses.
No deaths were attributable to this condition.
The County Medical Officer informs me that 372 Chislehurst
and Sidcup children completed a course of two injections against
this disease during the year and that a further 348 received one
injection, but these numbers are of course too small to have had
any significant influence on the incidence of this illness.