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11
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis did not reach epidemic proportions in 1954. 21 patients were notified and were
admitted to Neasden Hospital. Only ten actually had the disease confirmed, four in the age group 0-15
years and six over the age of 15 years. Five had the non-paralytic type of the disease, four had slight
paralysis, and one, a man of 33 years, had severe paralysis; there were no deaths.
Paratyphoid Fever
Seven cases were notified in 1954 (six confirmed). On the 29th October, an outbreak of paratyphoid fever
occurred at a hospital in the area; four children were affected but they were not seriously ill. Parents of
the children, and 25 hospital staff who had been on duty since the 1st October, were interviewed, and their
stools and urines were examined bacteriologically with negative results. Widal reactions were carried out;
positive reactions were all due to recent T.A.B. inoculation. It was not possible to identify the source of
infection.
Meningococcal Infection
Five cases were notified in 1954 (4 confirmed). There were two deaths of children under one year
of age, but they were not diagnosed or notified until post-mortem examination. One, a boy of six months,
died from cerebro-spinal meningitis, and the other, a boy of nine months, died from haemorrhage into the
supra-renal glands as a result of meningococcal septicæmia.
Dysentery
228 cases were notified in 1954 (200 confirmed). There were five outbreaks of dysentery during the
year.
(1) On January 19th, a member of the staff of the Central Middlesex Children's Homes was reported
to be suffering from Sonne dysentery after she had been absent from duty for a week, and seven children
who were positive on routine swabbing, were isolated from the remainder. They had no symptoms and
admissions to the home were recommenced after 9th February.
(2) On the 11th January, there was an outbreak of dysentery at the Connaught House Nursery affecting
five children; their symptoms were very mild and two were transferred to the isolation hospital. Three
members of the staff were found to be carriers and were sent home until clear of infection. Subsequently,
on the 10th February, there was a recurrence among the staff, and six more children were found to be
positive. Owing to staffing difficulties, it was decided to close the Nursery on the 18th February, and it was
not reopened until the 11th March.
(3) In March, there was an outbreak of dysentery at Acton Lane School; sixteen cases were notified
from the 10th March to the 31st March, and three other cases occurred on the 12th April, 12th May and
the 17th May. All but one had symptoms which were mild. It was not until the end of June that all cases
had returned to school.
(4) On the 7th May there was an outbreak of dysentery affecting five patients in the general hospital
in the district. Three patients were removed to the Neasden Isolation Hospital; their symptoms were mild
and the infection cleared up rapidly.
(5) On the 1st J une there was an outbreak of dysentery at the Curzon Crescent Nursery School affecting
fourteen children; two were removed to the Neasden Isolation Hospital. The symptoms were very
mild and the children affected were soon free from infection and back at school.
Smallpox
There were no cases of smallpox.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
One case was notified (-38 per 1,000 live births); there was complete recovery with unimpaired
vision.