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CHAPTER III.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
1. SERVICES PROVIDED, Notification, investigation,
pamphlets issued on the various infectious diseases, exclusion from
school of patients and contacts, advice re milk handlers—Disinfection
—Hospitalisation generally at Neasden Hospital or Hendon Isolation
Hospital, re puerperal pyrexia and ophthalmia neonatorum, Emergency
Bed Service, re smallpox as arranged by the Regional Hospital
Board — Notification of tuberculosis — Authentication of travellers'
inoculation state — Food poisoning notification and investigation —
Scabies, arrangements with the Middlesex County Council —
Complete bacteriological service available at Central Public Health
Laboratory, Colindale, outfits distributed from Public Health Department.
2. There is little to note in this Section for the year, as the absence
of any unusual infectious disease and the lack of any major outbreak of
notifiable disease have not occasioned serious concern during the year. The
incidence of common infections of infancy varies slightly from time to
time and the figures in the statistical appendix indicate that the experience
in 1956 was not unusual or in any way adverse.
One particular incident calls for some comment, although the results
could not be regarded as serious. In October five cases were notified from
one of the schools in the Borough as suspected aseptic meningitis (? Poliomyelitis),
and immediately it became evident that the school could possibly
have been a source of infection arrangements were made for the Health
Visitor and Assistant School Medical Officer to visit the premises daily,
excluding all children showing suspicious symptoms and following up in the
home all absentees. An informative letter was sent to practitioners and two
days later it was felt prudent to avoid the re-assembly of the eight-year-old
group (78 children) at the conclusion of the half-term holiday. The class
involved was closed therefore during the possible incubation period of the
suspected illness. Fortunately, no further cases occurred although, as can
be imagined, the local press, and indeed the national press, commented upon
the situation. It was not until some two months later that cultures from
the laboratory showed the presence of Poliomyelitis virus from at least
three of the children previously excluded.
3. The supervision of contacts landing from ship or aeroplane called
for routine surveillance of 4 persons regarding smallpox. Constant vigilance
must be exercised on persons arriving from infected foreign areas and this
supervision must be given with discretion and understanding.
International Certificates of vaccination and immunisation were authenticated
in respect of 892 residents intending to proceed overseas.
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