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10
SECTION 1
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
CONTROL
The diseases notifiable under the Public Health Act,
1936 are smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, membraneous croup,
erysipelas, scarlet fever, typhus, typhoid, enteric and
relapsing fever. The Minister of Health has also made
regulations under this Act whereby the following diseases
are notifiable plague, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis,
puerperal pyrexia, ophthalmia neonatorum, malaria, dysen
teiy, acute primary pneumonia, acute influenzal pneumonia,
measles, whooping cough, acute encephalitis and meningo
coccal infection.
Pood poisoning is notifiable under the provisions of
the Pood and Drugs Act of 1955.
Under the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations,
1959, the occupier of premises used in the milk trade
must notify the Medical Officer of Health if any of his
staff are suffering from or have been in contact with any
of the diseases enumerated above. In addition to these
diseases the occupier of such premises has the same
obligations in respect of gastro enteritis.
The Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Amendment
Regulations, 1960, provide for the notification of Anthrax.
DIPHTHERIA.
There was a case reported of a girl of 15 years who
died from a throat infection. She was admitted to hospital
on the 4th February with a diagnosis of acute tonsillitis.
She developed quinsy on the 7th February and collapsed
and died the following day. The result of a throat swab
examination was inconclusive. There was considerable
doubt about the diagnosis of diphtheria but in view of
the Pathologist's decision to rely upon clinical evidence
the case was accepted as diphtheria on the Death Certifi
cate.
All contacts were followed up and swabs from her
family proved negative.
During 1961, 2,424 children under one year of age
were immunised against diphtheria. This represents approximately
84% of children in their first year of life who
were immunised in Ealing. Diphtheria immunisation is now
normally combined with that against whooping cough and
tetanus.