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PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
These diseases were made compulsory notifiable in October, 1939. 796
cases of Measles and 285 cases of Whooping Cough were notified during the
year. There were no deaths from Measles or Whooping Cough.
Diphtheria.
No cases were notified during the year ; one case was notified in 1949.
Scarlet Fever.
Continued to occur throughout the year in a mild form. There were 331
cases compared with 188 in 1949 ; there were no deaths.
"Return" cases numbered four, allowing for an interval of 28 days
between a patient returning home from the Isolation Hospital and the onset
of the disease in another inmate of the house.
Smallpox.
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year.
Dysentery.
Following information received from a neighbouring Authority a letter
was sent on the 27th November, 1950 to the General Practitioners in Edmonton,
asking for their co-operation in sending to the Town Hall, Specimens
for culture and diagnosis in any cases of Enteritis, mild or otherwise, in order
that such steps as may be necessary be taken to check the disease.
On the 4th December, 1950 a further letter was sent informing them of an
outbreak of Diarrhoea and vomiting in the Borough mainly due to Sonne
Dysentery. At this time the outbreak appeared to be mainly concentrated
in the Raynham Road School Area and the Nursery Class of this school was
closed for the time being.
The following steps were taken to deal with the situation : —
(1) Faeces outfits were supplied by the Public Health Department to all
children in the class and where specimens were found to be negative
the children were allowed to return to school, after submitting 2
further negative specimens.
(2) Where found positive, parents were advised to consult their private
doctor.
(3) No child was allowed to return to school until 3 consecutive negative
specimens were obtained.
Within a few days it was apparent that the disease was spreading to other
parts of the Borough, and I therefore requested the Borough Education Officer
to circularise all schools in the area that every child must wash its hands
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