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There is little doubt that the virulence of the streptococcus
has declined in recent years but such variations have been described
for centuries and the return of the disease to its former severe
form is not impossible.
Chemotherapy has now greatly lessened the danger, but
notification and isolation still remain essential parts of the control
of the spread of infectious disease.
Only 17 deaths occurred from this cause during the year in
England and Wales as compared to 188 in 1941.
Food Poisoning.
There has been a gratifying reduction during the year of the
number of cases of food poisoning and sonne dysentery.
The "Clean Food" campaign has been pressed vigorously over
the past four years so that many thousands of the key food workers
of the Borough are now keenly aware of the risk of food infections
and the methods of prevention.
During the year 26 notifications were received (8 confirmed
bacteriologically) as compared to 86 cases in 1951 (14 confirmed).
The causative agent in 6 cases was Salmonella Typhimurium
and in the other two B. Enteritidis and B. Aetrycke.
The source of infection was not identified in spite of
laboratory tests.
Malaria.
One case, a man of 41 years, who had contracted the disease
in India, was diagnosed in Hendon Isolation Hospital.
Measles.
993 notifications were received during the year, a great
decrease from the 3,296 of the preceding year. The largest number
ot cases occurred in the second quarter.
At the end of the year there was a slight increase in the number
of cases which was a prelude to the nation-wide epidemic of the
Spring of 1953.
There were no deaths.
Measles is caused by a filtrable virus borne by droplet spray
entering the nose and throat.
The intense coughing, sneezing and watering of the eyes in
the early stages resembles a common cold, and the sufferer has
many opportunities to spread the condition.
Children with these symptoms should be isolated, medical care
obtained, and the blotchy rash looked for on the fourth day of
illness.