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Public Health Committee. At the moment, it can be said that the
percentage of children up to the age of 15 who have been vaccinated
against poliomyelitis is most gratifying. Indeed, the initial figures
showed that the percentage as applied to Area No. 2 was actually
the highest in the County. This again is a tribute to the foresight
of parents, who have not hesitated to take advantage of the facilities
provided. The response to the offer of vaccination against poliomyelitis
among the 15.26 age group was not so high, although
here again our preliminary survey tends to show that the rate was
and still is considerably higher than that reported from the country
as a whole.
We all know that the policy of vaccination against poliomyelitis
has been altered from time to time, and that it has not yet been
entirely stabilized. Many people feel, for instance, that a fourth
inoculation will be required before full protection can be guaranteed.
It is certainly known that the third injection is vital ; that without
this third injection, given following a minimum of seven months
after the second injection, no one is fully protected. In view of
the changing picture, I intend to keep the Public Health Committee
fully informed of variations in policy and progress made.
Southgate co-operated with the Central Public Health Laboratory
at Colindale in collecting and sending for examination, every
week, the stools of selected infants. This was part of an extensive
enquiry into the possible existence of carriers of the poliomyelitis
virus. No virus was discovered among all the specimens sent for
examination.
Measles.
As noted elsewhere. 207 cases of measles were notified during
the year, as against 973 cases in 1957. These facts indicate that
1958 was not a "measles" year. Once again the disease in itself
was mild in the extreme. This contrasts very favourably with the
position not so very long ago, when serious complications such as
broncho-pneumonia and middle ear disease were all too common.
Indeed, the admission to hospital of a case of measles is now
virtually confined to children whose home conditions are unsatisfactory—and
there are very few of these in Southgate—or where
there is no one at home to look after the child during the illness,
however mild that illness may be.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough).
12 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were notified during
the year, as against 73 cases in 1957.
It is perhaps too soon yet to state definitely that our policy
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