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10
Appointments were sent to those parents who signified their
wish for their children to be immunised and special sessions were
held at five centres in the District for this purpose.
During the year 915 children completed the course which consists
of two injections of A.P.T. with an interval of four weeks.
The immunising substance used is supplied free by the Ministry
of Health through the laboratory at Epping.
The value of this work is shown by the continued low incidence
of Diphtheria of which 7 cases were notified.
No death from Diphtheria occurred in this District during the
year, but one death of a child belonging to the District who contracted
the disease and died in another part of the country is included
in the final returns.
Infective Hepatitis.
During the war, there has been an increase in the number of
cases of the disease previously known as Catarrhal Jaundice, but
which is now included in the designation Infective Hepatitis.
The Minister of Health has arranged for this disease to be
investigated by a group of workers in collaboration with the Medical
Research Council, and in order to ascertain its prevalence over a
wide area has required it to be compulsorily notifiable in the
Eastern Region.
The Jaundice Regulations by which power is taken to require
notification came into operation in Hornchurch on the 22nd January,
1944.
The total number of notifications of Infective Hepatitis received
during the year was 81, referring to 79 civilians and 2 persons in
the armed forces.
The following are details of the 79 civilians.
The months in which notified, the sexes, and age groups are
shown in tabular form. It will be observed that the largest number
of cases occurred in February, March and May.