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25
5.—PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
(i) Notifiable Diseases.
As in the past, I here make the comment that 1 have not
recorded those notifications, where the diagnosis has been altered
after a period of observation, or after investigation. Should, however,
the amended diagnosis prove the condition to be one of another
type of infection which is notifiable, then the case has been
appropriately recorded.
(a) Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.
Infantile Paralysis was, fortunately, not in epidemic form, so
far as this district was concerned. Altogether, there were 6 cases.
Three of these had paralysis of varying degree, and 3 were abortive.
One patient, a woman, aged 29 years, unfortunately, died.
Two days after coming to Romford on holiday, she complained of
headache, and pains in the neck and shoulders. Next day she was
removed to Rush Green Hospital, and had extensive paralysis, involving
practically every muscle in the body. On making our investigions,
we found that she had come from an area where 16 paralytic
cases had occurred in a relatively short period of time, and it is a
fair assumption that she arrived in Romford, whilst incubating the
infection.
(b) Acute Infective Hepatitis.
This condition is still notifiable throughout the Eastern Region.
Altogether, there were 26 notifications, and these were again forwarded
to the Regional Medical Officer at Cambridge for his information,
for research purposes.
(c) Diphtheria.
During 1951, no cases occurred in the district. This is the
third year in succession in which I have been able to give this
favourable report.
The following statistics relate to the state of Immunisation at
the 31st December, 1951.