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and who was re-admitted to the nursery before the occurrence
of the first definite case. In view of later developments,
he was ultimately diagnosed as having suffered from a mild
attack of poliomyelitis.
Severity of Cases:
The following gives an indication of the severity of attack
in the cases of poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis which
occurred during the year:—
Died 4
Severe 5
Moderate 8
Mild 3
No subsequent paralysis 17
In this latter group, the diagnosis was in the majority of
cases arrived at because of the characteristic changes which
occurred in the cerebro-spinal fluid and no subsequent
paralysis developed.
The usual administrative measures were taken in an
endeavour to reduce the number of cases. These were, briefly,
as follows
(1) Notices to the General Practitioners in the Borough
advising them that the disease had re-appeared.
(2) Advice to parents at Health Centres and through the
agency of the local press.
(3) The postponement of operative procedure for tonsils
and adenoids at local hospitals and the cessation of
all but emergency dental extractions at the local
Health Centres.
(4) The isolation of cases, the exclusion from school and
the supervision of all contacts.
The heightened incidence of the disease gradually subsided
with the advent of the cooler weather, and the last case was
notified on 6th December, 1949.
10