London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Coulsdon and Purley 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL
The following table indicates the number of cases of infectious
diseases notified during 1961, the number admitted to hospital and
the number of deaths which occurred.
TABLE VI
| Disease. | Numbers Notified. | Admitted to Hospital. | Total Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet fever | 43 | 3 | - |
| Acute pneumonia | 17 | 1 | — |
| Measles | 884 | 11 | — |
| Whooping cough | 30 | — | — |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — |
| Dysentery | 42 | 30 | — |
| Food poisoning | 1 | — | — |
| Acute poliomyelitis | — | — | — |
| Puerperal pyrexia | 1 | — | — |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — |
| Paratyphoid B | 1 | 1 | — |
| Acute encephalitis | 1 | 1 | — |
| Meningococcal infection | 1 | 1 | — |
A further analysis of these cases by ages, wards and the
months during which they occurred is given in Tables XVII and
XVIII in the Appendix and the number of cases of infectious
disease notified since 1931 is given in Table XIX in the Appendix.
It will be seen that tuberculosis is omitted from this list of
infectious diseases, as it is dealt with separately later. The incidence
of whooping cough remained low but measles was very prevalent.
SCARLET FEVER
There were 43 cases of scarlet fever, approximately half the
number that occurred in 1960, three being admitted to hospital.
This disease is difficult to control and it is fortunate that in
recent years it has become a very much milder disease than it used
to be.
ACUTE PNEUMONIA
During the year 17 cases occurred, one being admitted to
hospital.
MEASLES
1961 was an epidemic year for measles; 884 cases occurred
compared with only 60 in the previous year. Eleven cases were
admitted to hospital.
Immunisation is still not available against this disease although
work is proceeding on a vaccine and it remains one of the commonest
diseases of childhood.
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