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tions of which 38 were confirmed, 22 paralytic and 16 nonparalytic.
The first 32 cases had dates of onset varying
from 14th September to 4th November and were mainly confined
to the North Ealing area but it was interesting to
note that the subsequent notifications had a much wider
distribution and that they included the five unconfirmed
cases. Of the remaining six confirmed cases in this group
only one occurred in the North Ealing area. The ages of
cases varied from 28 years to 4 weeks.
Ten schools in all were eventually involved but the
North Ealing School was hardest hit, there being 13 cases,
6 paralytic and 7 non-paralytic. The age groups affected
were as follows:-
Age 5 and under 4
9 9 7 99 99 ^
it 8 99 99 J
9 9 9 9 9 99 2
" 11 " " 2
By thorough investigation of the outbreak it was hoped
that something could be added to the existing scanty knowledge
of the epidemiology of poliomyelitis but though all
avenues of investigation were explored it proved impossible
to pinpoint the source of infection or its means of spread.
These enquiries did, however, reveal that in five cases
originally notified as non-paralytic poliomyelitis, laboratory
investigations succeeded in isolating not a virus
of polionyelitis but a virus related to ECHO Virus Type 9,
In the last 18 months, this organism has been found in
outbreaks of aseptic meningitis in several parts of the
country. The condition has many of the appearances of
poliomyelitis but paralysis is absent and recovery occurs
within a week.
The methods used in investigation and control of
poliomyelitis epidemics are as follows:-
METHODS OF CONTROL.
Control of the infected individual, contact and
environment.
(i) All cases are notified to the Medical Officer of
Heal th.
(ii) All suspected cases are isolated, usually in hospital,
for three weeks.