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The only case of diphtheria notified during the year was a very
mild infection in a child who had never been immunised.
Scarlet fever continues to be of the prevalent mild type.
Measles not only continued its epidemic prevalence of the last
three years, but established a new high record of incidence since
the disease became notifiable in 1940.
Although the incidence of whooping cough was not so great
as in the previous year, it was sufficiently widespread to cause much
invalidity. It is, however, encouraging to be able to report that
in this area there has been no death due to whooping cough for
three years. On page 88 will be found information regarding the
progress of the investigation (dealt with in my last two Annual
Reports) being carried out in this area, in collaboration with the
Medical Research Council, into the reliability of certain makes of
whooping cough vaccines; followed by details of the scheme initiated
for the protection of children against whooping cough.
It is with relief that I am able to record that no case of poliomyelitis
(infantile paralysis) was notified throughout 1951, this
being the first year of complete freedom from poliomyelitis since
1945.
Although there has been, as compared with the previous year,
a decrease in the number of persons notified to be suffering from
tuberculosis, there has been an increase in deaths due to tuberculous
infection.
Sanitary Circumstances.
The provision of adequate housing is undoubtedly one of the
most important of the many problems to be dealt with by local
sanitary authorities. Much of the house property in Leyton, designed
and built to accommodate one family, is now subdivided into two
or more flats. Not only does such a state of affairs give rise to
overcrowding, but to untold worry and grief owing to the compulsory
sharing of household amenities. Another disquieting factor is the
age and dilapidation of most of the dwellings in the area. Unfortunately
Leyton is a built-up area, with few sites available for the
erection of new houses; but it will not be possible to deal with the
clearance of unfit areas under the provisions of the Housing Acts
until dwellings are available for the rehousing of tenants from areas
to be cleared. Of all conditions prejudicial to health, unfit housing
is a prime contributory cause; and until adequate dwellings are