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72
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
General.
In the past few years the total number of notifications of
infectious diseases received, have been dominated by the disease
"measles". It will be seen that the wave of measles, occurring every
other year gives rise to alternative high and low figures.
1960 26 1956 790
1959 1,391 1955 1,896
1958 387 1954 661
1957 1,955
It is interesting to note the "low" figures have been decreasing.
In other respects also, 1960 can be considered a good year, as
there were no cases of poliomyelitis, meningoccocal infection or
typhoid fever notified.
In fact, 60% of the notifications in 1960 were associated with
an outbreak of a mild form of Whooping Cough, which brought in
84 and 80 notifications in June and July respectively.
Once again, the vast majority of cases of infectious disease
continued the mild trend so noticeable in recent years.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis and Vaccination.
I am pleased to be able to report a complete absence of this
disease in the Urban District during the year 1960.
The County Medical Officer informs me that a total of 4,661
residents in Chislehurst and Sidcup received their second injection,
and 7,147 their third against this disease during the year.
Diphtheria and Diphtheria Immunisation.
Again, it is pleasing to be able to report a complete absence
of this disease in the Urban District in 1960.
I understand from the County Medical Officer that a total of
18,720 children in the Urban District under the age of 15 years on
31st December, 1960, have, at some time before that date, completed
a course of immunisation against this disease.
Dysentery.
Notifications of this disease were well up on the previous year,
45 cases being notified as against 12 in 1959. There did not appear
to be any particular focus of infection, the incidence being spread
over the period from January to August. The disease is usually
amenable to modern treatment but prevention of spread is difficult
on account of the prevalence of symptomless carriers.