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Scarlet Fever.
Twelve coses of scarlet fever were notified during
1955 as against 40 in 1954. The notifications for the
previous three years were 40, 31 and 26 respectively.
These totals are much too small to allow of any lasting
conclusions being drawn. I would again stress, however,
the fact that the severity of scarlet fever has substantially
decreased. Indeed, this disease has little more nowadays
than nuisance value, complications and sequelae being almost
entirely absent. I would remind the Council, however, that
this may only be a passing phase. This means that we must
still continue to investigate all cases, to control contacts
and carry out our normal procedure designed to safeguard the
population, particularly the children, against scarlet fever.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.
Two cases of poliomyelitis were notified in Friern
Barnet during 1955 (one of which was paralytic). No case
was notified in 1954.
It will now be common knowledge that a scheme for
inoculating certain age groups against poliomyelitis has been
arranged, using the British-type vaccine which is said to be
in advance of any vaccine yet used in other parts of the
world. At the time of writing this report ninety-one
Friern Barnet children have already been inoculated, with
no untoward effects of any kind. Inoculations are, of
course, being carried out by the staff of the Area Health
Office, but I know that the Council will await with interest
the results of the first batch of inoculations, when this
has been completed.
Measles.
As already noted, 462 cases of measles were notified
during the year, as against 108 in 1954. As with scarlet
fever, severity was extremely mild, admission to hospital
being only required in seven cases.
Measles is a classic example of a disease which has
not altered its epidemiological character. It still appears
in epidemic form with monotonous regularity every second
year, in spite of all measures designed to check its spread.
On the other hand, severity has markedly decreased, so that
the illness, although distressing enough at the time, does
not leave behind it the stigmata with which it was so long
associated.
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