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INFECTIOUS DISEASES:
There is little to comment upon on the incidence of
infectious diseases as compared with that of the previous year,
but special reference should be made to the following:
Diphtheria:
It will be seen that 10 cases of this disease were notified
but in only 4 of these was the diagnosis ultimately confirmed.
3 of these were adults who, as far as is known, had not been
immunised, and one, a child aged 7 years, was admitted from
Edgware General Hospital. The residence of this child was
outside the Borough and while there is reason to believe that
the child had at some time been immunised, the actual date of
immunisation was not known.
Immunisation against Diphtheria:
The duty of making arrangements for immunisation
against diphtheria of persons living in the area has been transferred
to the Local Health Authority, namely, the Middlesex
County Council, under Section 26 of the National Health Service
Act, 1946. The scheme previously in force by which
children under 5 years of age were immunised by the medical
staff at the Health Centres was continued as was the scheme
for primary and re-inforcing injections amongst school
children.
Section 26 (3) of the Act states:—
"In making arrangements under this section a
local health authority shall give every medical
practitioner providing general medical services in
their area under Part IV. of this Act an opportunity
to provide services under this section."
This has been done, and the scheme has now been extended
to include immunisation by general practitioners.
It is reasonable to assume that the continued low incidence
of diphtheria is largely influenced by the high percentage of
children within the Borough who have been immunised against
this disease, as illustrated in the following Table:—
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