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51
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
General
Although a total of 4,772 notifications of Infectious Disease
were received during 1967, the vast majority of these (4,299) were
in respect of cases of measles, and the Borough continued to enjoy
the freedom from the more serious infections which has been such
a gratifying feature of its health experience so far.
Once again, both diphtheria and poliomyelitis were noteworthy
by their absence, a tribute to the good sense of parents
in the Borough in continuing to take full advantage of the immunisation
facilities provided for their families by the Local Authority
and General Practitioner services.
It is anticipated that before the next biennial epidemic of
measles occurs a safe and effective vaccine will be available to
give protection against this common, but sometimes unpleasant,
illness. It is hoped that the public response will be sufficient to
make some impact on the epidemic prevalence of this infection.
Cases of whooping cough showed a sharp increase compared
with the previous year and there was also a small increase in the
number of cases of food poisoning reported, the latter reemphasizing
the need for continued and continual vigilance in the
field of food hygiene.
In other respects, however, the notifications compared
favourably with the preceding year. Cases of dysentery were fewer
and isolated and this infection did not occur in epidemic form
during the year.
Finally, it is encouraging to be able to record again a further
diminution in the number of new cases of tuberculosis reported
during the year, the total number of new notifications being 44 as
compared with 60 in 1966, and there was again a further small
reduction in the total number of patients on the Register.
Statistical details of the various infectious diseases are given
below under separate headings and unless otherwise stated, no
deaths from these infections occurred.
Diphtheria
No cases were notified in 1967.
Dysentery
Twenty-nine cases were notified, all of them being of the mild
sonnei type. These were all isolated cases and the infection did
not occur in epidemic form. Forty-three notifications were received
in 1966.
Erysipelas
Eleven cases were notified as against eight in the previous
year.