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3. Measles notifications dropped from 732 in 1959 to 41.
This was to be expected, as 1960 was not a "measles year." As in
the case of scarlet fever, severity was extremely low.
4. Pertussis notifications rose from 9 to 60. This was in some
ways surprising, since the incidence of measles and pertussis usually
run together. Of the 60 cases of pertussis notified during the year,
11 had been vaccinated. In this connection, it must be remembered
that vaccination against pertussis does not guarantee complete
protection against the disease. What we hope, and what indeed
we have found, is that when a vaccinated child develops pertussis,
the illness is usually mild.
5. The incidence of food poisoning and dysentery rose during
the year from a combined total of 34 during 1959 to a total of
125 during 1960. Sonne dysentery is now endemic in this country,
and control measures must be rigidly applied. These include an
adequate provision of hot water, soap and towels in schools—this
is a matter we are constantly taking up—the teaching of all children
to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating food,
the supply of disinfectants to schools when the incidence either of
food poisoning or dysentery increases, and the use of letters
excluding children who have recently suffered or are suffering from
diarrhoea from school for one week, when more than a few cases
have been reported from that particular school. These precautions
are very necessary because, although neither food poisoning nor
Sonne dysentery can be said to be a particularly dangerous illness
in school children, we know only too well that such diseases as
poliomyelitis may be spread in precisely the same way.
6. No cases of poliomyelitis were notified during 1960. Our
immunisation campaign against poliomyelitis has continued without
abatement. Our present figures show that more than 90% of
Southgate children have been protected against poliomyelitis by
vaccination, a figure of which we are particularly proud.
7. Twentyeight cases of tuberculosis were notified during
1960, as against 25 in 1959. This number is lower than the figures
for 1956, 1957 and 1958. The Mass X-ray Unit did not visit
Southgate during 1960, but it is hoped that a visit will shortly be
arranged.
Distribution of cases of tuberculosis notified among the various
wards was as follows :
North-east North-west Middle South
9 4 6 9
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