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Printed instructions giving information with respect to Measles,
Whooping Cough and Chicken-pox are distributed by the Health
Visitors on their visits to homes, and are also available at the Child
Welfare Centres.
At the end of 1921 and the beginning of 1922, a serious epidemic
of Scarlet Fever occurred in the District, and our Hospital was
quite inadequate to deal with the number of cases. Consequently,
the Council made an arrangement with the London Fever Hospital
to admit any cases of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria which required
urgent removal. Careful enquiry was made into each case, but no
common source of infection could be traced.
Upon the receipt of a Notification of Infectious Disease, an
early investigation of the case is made as to the probable source of
infection and the surroundings of the patient and family. If removal
is desirable or requested, a message is sent to the Joint
Isolation Hospital, and an ambulance, with a nurse in attendance,
is sent for the conveyance of the patient.
When cases are treated at home, a leaflet is left, with full
instructions as to the isolation, etc., of the patient, and a card,
which the medical practitioner returns to the Public Health
Department on the recovery of the patient.
Following on the removal or recovery of patients, the premises
are disinfected with Formaldehyde Gas or Formalin Spray—whichever
is convenient—and the bedding, etc., removed from the house
for disinfection in a Washington Lyons Disinfector.
Day and Sunday Schools, and the Librarian of the Public
Library, are notified of the existence of Infectious Disease in every
case, and are again notified when disinfection has been carried out.
The Education Committee have instructed the Head Teachers of
the various Schools under their control that no child is to return
to School until Notification of Disinfection has been received from
the Public Health Department; while we find the Superintendents
of the Sunday Schools most anxious and willing to assist us in this
direction.