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Scarlet Fever.
Thirty-seven cases of scarlet fever were
notified during 1957 as against 22 in 1956. The
notifications for the previous three years were 22,
12 and 2 respectively.
We no longer consider it necessary to exclude
home contacts of scarlet fever from school. This is
in keeping with modern practice, which is based on the
known fact that the exclusion of home contacts of
most infectious diseases from school makes little or
no difference to the infectious sickness rate of the
district. Thus, virtually the only common infectious
disease for which there is still an exclusion period
for contacts is poliomyelitis. One must, of course,
continue to exclude contacts of such dangerous contagious
diseases as smallpox, where the role of the intimate
contact is rather different. We also continue to
exclude known, 'carriers' of disease-producing germs,
when this fact has been definitely established.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.
One paralytic case of poliomyelitis and 3 nonparalytic
cases were notified in Friern Barnet during
1957. One case was notified in 1956.
The Council will be aware of the programme of
vaccination against poliomyelitis which was in progress
throughout 1957. The Council will also be aware
of the hold-up in vaccine which occurred early in 195,
and of the corresponding interruptions which have taken
place in our schedule of inoculations. Although this
is a matter which more properly belongs to the Annual
Report for 1958, it can happily be said that vaccine
is now becoming available in increasing quantities.
During 1957, approximately 668 Friern Barnet children
were given two injections of polio vaccine of the British
type as American vaccine was not then being used in this
country. 149 children were given one injection, but
should have had their second injection during the early
months of 1958. It will be appreciated that these
figures must be approximate, as we have very limited
information relating to children who attend boarding
schools outside Friern Barnet and who presumably
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