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PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
These diseases were made compulsorily notifiable in October, 1939. 1,754
cases of Measles and 115 cases of Whooping Cough were notified during the
year. There were no deaths from these diseases.
Diphtheria.
No cases were notified during the year. One case was notified during
1954.
Scarlet Fever.
Continued to occur throughout the year in a mild form. There were
64 cases compared with 133 in 1954; there were no deaths.
"Return" cases numbered one, 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.
Enteric Fever.
7 cases of Paratyphoid " B " were notified during the year.
In the first 2 cases, the patients (mother and daughter), had been on
holiday in Essex and the source of infection was suspected to be shellfish
collected on the foreshore.
Another case was found to be a paracolon infection. Examinations
revealed that the source of infection was tortoises, which were later destroyed
by the R.S.P.C.A.
Investigations of the remaining 4 cases failed to reveal the source of
infection.
Dysentery.
During the year 142 cases of Dysentery were notified—90 Sonne, 20
Giardia, 21 Salmonella Typhi-murium, 2 Salmonella Thompson, 4 Salmonella
Manhattan, 1 Amoebic and 4 unspecified.
The control measures, detailed in my Report for 1950, were maintained,
and again I wish to record my appreciation of the co-operation and assistance
I received from the General Practitioners, Dr. M. Thomas and Staff of the
Public Health Laboratory Service (Edmonton). Education Department and
Teachers, and the Staff of the Health Department.
Meningoccal Infection.
Two cases were notified during the year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
91 cases were notified during the year. 86 in North Middlesex Hospital
and 5 at home. Of this total 32 were Edmonton cases.
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