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Leaving aside the important question of epidemiology as we
know it, the picture in regard to infectious diseases is still relatively
fluent. In my Annual Report for 1953, I mentioned the reduction
in severity, particularly as it affects a disease such as scarlet fever.
These remarks still apply. We also know that virus diseases, many
indeterminate and still being investigated, have shown a definite
tendency to increase. Among these diseases, the complaint known
as winter vomiting is particularly apparent. This disease has little
more than a nuisance value, and has not shown itself capable of
producing either a serious illness or dangerous after effects. None
the less, the appearance of new virus diseases must be treated with
great caution, since we know only too well the ravages which a
virus disease such as poliomyelitis can produce. Unfortunately, only
a proportion, virtually an unknown proportion of virus infections
are at present notifiable. This is inevitable, as many of these diseases
are extremely mild, while their relationship to other diseases and
their precise position in the general pattern has not yet been fully
established. In the meantime, therefore, we continue to hold a
watching brief, prepared to change our attitude in the light of
experience and information.
I would conclude this section of the Report by making reference
to influenza. Towards the end of 1953, the Ministry of Health
asked us to supply information on the prevalence of influenza, particularly
the type of influenza complicated by pneumonia and by
cerebral complications. I communicated on several occasions with
general practitioners, and obtained a miscellaneous bag of information
which I correlated and transmitted to the Ministry. At that
time, there did not appear any evidence that influenza was unduly
prevalent. Later, however, the number of cases did increase, so
much so that we might have had to put into operation certain
emergency domiciliary nursing measures for which we were fully
prepared. Fortunately, the number of serious complications and
deaths gave no cause for alarm. This, however, is an example of
the type of Co-operation which one heartily endorses. Only when
the central authority, the local authority and the body of general
practitioners concerned is prepared to work together, interchanging
information to the fullest possible extent, can we say that we are
ready to cope with any situation. The fact that special measures
were never necessary in this particular instance should never be
allowed to militate against this excellent principle.
Diphtheria.
For the seventh year in succession, no case of diphtheria was
notified in the Borough. The last death took place approximately
12 years ago.
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