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MEDICAL OFFICER'S ANNUAL REPORT.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Hayes, Middlesex.
May, 1958.
To the Chairman and Members of the Council,
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The incidence of infectious disease in 1957 was greatest
during the early part of the year. As forecast, there were
1,324 cases of measles, but fortunately most of them were
of only moderate severity and without complications. There
were also 66 cases of Sonne dysentery, affecting chiefly
school children in the northern part of the district. The
source of infection was not found, but spread appeared to
be by contact between the children; examination by swabbing
of water closet# seat$, chains and doors yielded no evidence
of contamination.
There was a return to the pre 1954 level of whooping
cough, 148 cases being notified. Since the number of
children being immunised against this disease continues to
rise, it would seem that doctors are now notifying extremely
mild cases, which in other years would have escaped their
attention. Certainly since immunisation became popular,
whooping cough has not been accompanied by the severe complications
which used to occur.
Influenza of the Asian strain reached the district in
September and spread swiftly involving all age groups. The
epidemic lasted a few weeks only, but there were 7 deaths,
chiefly of elderly or debilitated persons. A specific
vaccine was prepared nationally, and offered to those
specially exposed to risk i. e. medical and hospital personnel ,
ambulance staff, etc.
The vital statistics remain much as they were last year
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