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8
Infectious Diseases.
The total number of notifications of all infectious diseases is lower
than last year.
One disquieting feature, however, is the increase in poliomyelitis
cases ; the highest number recorded in Leyton. The proportion of
paralytic to the non-paralytic form of this disease is shown on page 21,
together with the age groups affected. There is world wide interest in
the results of the field trials carried out on the vaccine against polio
myelitis in the United States. Their findings seems highly favourable
towards this vaccine. This may well be the answer to this dreaded
disease, formerly known as ' infantile paralysis.' Seventeen of the cases
notified in 1955 were of school age or under.
No cases of diphtheria occurred, but there should be no complacency.
Immunisation must be kept at high level to ensure its suppression,
especially amongst infants. The percentage of infants so
protected is disappointing. Measles still claims the highest numbers of
any of the infectious diseases.
Although only 63 cases of food poisoning were notified, there is no
doubt that several times this number of cases occurred where the persons
concerned did not seek medical attention.
Of the three cases of typhoid fever, one was not a Leyton resident.
Another was found to be a carrier and was undoubtedly the infecting
source of the third, a child of two. Fortunately no deaths occurred.
Dysentery and Food Poisoning.
It is hoped that a reduction of the incidence of food poisoning will
result when the Food Hygiene Regulations of 1955 come into force next
year. Apart from specifying hygienic standards of premises and equipment,
it is gratifying to note that there are requirements relating to
persons engaged in handling food. The owner or occupier will be
obliged to notify the Medical Officer of Health when he becomes aware
that a person is suffering from, or is a carrier of, an infection likely to
cause food poisoning. These regulations can do much, but however
strictly they are observed a food handler with unhygienic habits can do
untold harm.
Tuberculosis.
It is gratifying to note that the incidence of tuberculosis of all forms
is the lowest recorded in Leyton. The number of deaths remained low
thanks to earlier diagnosis, vigorous case finding and improved methods
of treatment. Even so, they still exceed fatal motor vehicle accidents.
Although B.C.G. vaccination has proved its value in affording
considerable protection against tuberculosis, it is the maintenance of
good nutrition, general hygienic measures, and the constant pursuit of
the infecting source that we must look to in order to reduce still further
the number of cases. There are still too many unknown infectors whose
symptoms are so mild that they live an active life but constitute a
dangerous reservoir of infection. They seem reluctant to avail themselves
of the excellent services of miniature mass radiography units.
Mass radiography surveys have revealed that a comparatively high
incidence of undiscovered infectious cases occur in the adult male group
of 50 and over.