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2 INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Anthrax
No cases were notified.
Cholera
No cases were notified. During the latter half of the year
there were outbreaks of cholera in several countries and
as a result ports of entry into Britain demanded valid
certificates of vaccination from persons arriving from
those places. 322 persons arriving by air and 23 by sea
who failed to provide valid certificates were kept under
surveillance for 5 days.
Diphtheria
No cases were notified.
Dysentery
69 cases were notified, 24 of which were confirmed
bacteriologically. The organism shigella sonnei was
found in 20 cases and shigella flexner in 4 cases.
Encephalitis (Acute)
Three cases were notified.
Food Poisoning
Notifications were received for 72 cases, 43 were
confirmed bacteriologically divided as follows:
Salmonella Typhimurium 12
Other SaImoneIlae 31
Infective Jaundice
During the year 72 cases were notified. In co-operation
with the London Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond
together with the West and South Middlesex hospitals the
Council participated in a pilot research scheme to:-
1. Assess the prevalence of endemic clinical hepatitis
in an open urban community.
2. Form detailed knowledge of the clinical pictures of
these disorders by a total population study in a
clearly defined geographical area.
3. Correlate the different clinical types of hepatitis
with associated immunological data such as
hepatitis associated with australic antigen.
4. Investigate as far as possible the epidemiological
factors with particlar regard to the spread and
severity of these illnesses in the community.
A detailed questionnaire was completed in each case
which involved more than 150 visits by the Public Health
Inspectors. This research scheme will continue for three
years, and the results will be published in due course.
Leptospirosis
No cases were notified.
Malaria
One case was notified which was contracted abroad.
Measles
1,039 cases were notified. The corresponding figures
for the last three years were:-
1968 722
1969 1588
1970 932
The figures seem to indicate that, as the consequence of
routine immunisation, the former two-year cycle of the
disease tends to become less pronounced.
Meningitis (Acute)
9 cases were notified.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
5 cases were notified.
Paratyphoid Fever
There were three cases notified.
The first case was a 21 year old student who had been
on holiday to Morocco. Shortly after his return to this
country he was admitted to hospital. No other case
occurred and it would appear that the infection was
contracted whilst he was abroad.
The second case was a 7 year old girl who became ill
after returning from a holiday in India and was subsequently
admitted to hospital. There were no other
cases and it appears that the infection was contracted
abroad.