View report page

The second example is in some ways more sinister than the first in that the illness occurred in a
tourist from this country. This is another instance of the hazards resulting from the increased range of
transport, and the disease is also found in two other North African countries - Morocco and Algeria.
Every intending traveller should enquire, and it is the duty of every agency to inform him, about the health
risks of countries to be visited. Where malaria is concerned, a suitable prophylactic drug should be
taken regularly, not only while in the malarious region but for a full month after leaving it.
Rubella
Rubella or German Measles is a mild infectious disease that would hardly deserve mention here were
it not for the serious developmental defects it can cause to the unborn child in the first three or four months
of pregnancy.
Two cases occurred in children in a crowded hostel for homeless families. Gammaglobulin injections
were given to all mothers living there who were less than four months pregnant.
A scheme is now in operation in Haringey whereby any pregnant woman teacher who is exposed to the
risk of rubella at school is either transferred to another school or allowed leave on full pay until four
months pregnant.
Leprosy
Two patients who changed their addresses and defaulted in treatment were visited and persuaded to
re-attend hospital.
This is a dangerous but not highly infectious disease. Powers to control unco-operative patients
were very limited in 1965, but have since been considerably extended.
Infective Hepatitis
This virus infection,also known as epidemic jaundice, is a major problem in other advanced countries
such as North America and Australia. It is not so common in the British Isles, and certainly is not so
highly infectious as many of the diseases that are encountered here. However, it is not notifiable in
numerous local authority areas, including this one, and there is mounting evidence that it occurs more
frequently than had been realised. Our own interest in this was stimulated by the floods in South
Tottenham on 20th July. It was wondered if the inability of the drains to cope with the enormous volumes
of water might have caused backflow and exposed the inhabitants to increased risk of the disease.
Consequently, an item was inserted in the weekly infectious diseases bulletin to general practitioners,
asking them to inform the Health Department of any cases they encountered, especially in those districts.
The response was generous. It soon became clear that the hypothesis was not confirmed by the facts,
and that the disease had actually been present before as well as after the floods. Visits to the households
involved revealed other affected people, and the ultimate picture was of a thin scattering of cases
throughout the Borough, with two concentrations in Tottenham: one in three houses where the families
were related to one another; the other in a block of flats. Attempts were made to find links between
these two episodes, but the evidence was not forthcoming.
If the disease should become notifiable, more effective measures to limit the spread could be taken
in future.
In October a case occurred at a densely occupied hostel for homeless families. In view of the
riskof infection, a proportion of the residents was given preventive injections of gamma globulin, supplied
by Colindale Public Health Laboratory. All are now being followed up as part of a national survey of
this preparation. No further cases have appeared.
There were 36 known cases during the year, 24 of which came to our notice through general
practitioners.
10