London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hornchurch 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornchurch]
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11
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
DISEASE.
During the year there was a decrease in the notifications of
infectious disease with the exception of Measles which showed
a marked increase, 1,196 cases being notified as compared with 154
during the previous year. The Scarlet Fever notifications numbered
121 as against 194 in 1944, and the Whooping Cough notifications
decreased from 229 to 38.
There were no cases of Smallpox, Typhoid Fever or Encephalitis.
In the following table are shown the number of notifications received and the number of cases removed to hospital.
| Disease. | Notified | Total Number of Cases Admitted to Hospital. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | 0 | 0 | |
| Scarlet Fever | 121 | 51 | |
| Diphtheria | 8 | 8 | |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | 6 | 6 | |
| Poliomyelitis | 2 | 2 | |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 15 | 11 | |
| Erysipelas | 11 | 2 | |
| Pneumonia | 79 | 20 | |
| Measles | 1,196 | 5 | |
| Whooping Cough | 38 | 0 | |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | 1 | |
| Dysentery | 5 | 4 | |
Diphtheria Immunisation.
Immunisation against Diphtheria was carried on during the
year. The Ministry of Health, by advertisements in the national
and local press, by their display of advertisements, by the distribution
of literature through the schools and child welfare centres,
and by cinema notices, continued to bring to the notice of the
public the importance of having their children immunised, especially
at the age of one year.
Mothers were also advised by the Health Visitors and Sanitary
Inspectors of the facilities provided by the Council for this to be
done.
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.