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57
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
General
The total number of cases of infectious disease notified to
the department was 1,658, an increase compared with the
previous year when 1,002 cases were reported. The difference was
accounted for by an increased number of cases of measles compared
with 1970. This infection continues to fluctuate in numbers
from year to year, though to a much less extent than was the
case before the availability of immunisation, and the large
epidemics of measles that occured bi-annually in the winter
months until quite recently, are now a thing of the past. Other
infections remained at a low level and there is nothing to report
upon specially in this respect, except to note again with pleasure
the absence of cases of Poliomyelitis and Diphtheria.
I would like to draw attention to the very considerable
amount of precautionary surveillance that is undertaken every
year by the staff of the Department and which, although constituting
an important measure in the prevention of infection, is
relatively unspectacular and may not achieve the deserved degree
of recognition. For example, in the year under consideration,
preventive work of this kind was necessary on a substantial scale
when cases of Cholera were reported on the Continent, and
similar steps were necessary in instances where residents had
been in contact with cases of Typhoid and Para Typhoid Fever.
Surveillance of unvaccinated travellers who have arrived from
areas of endemic or epidemic smallpox is also an accepted part
of the normal day-to-day work of the Department.
Statistical details of the various infectious diseases are given
below under separate headings and, unless otherwise stated, no
deaths from these infections occurred.
Cholera
During the year the Department was concerned with the
surveillance of returning holiday makers who were possible contacts
of this infection, cases of which had been reported to have
occurred on the continent. Surveillance was necessary for 348
residents involved in this way. No case of the infection occurred.
Diphtheria
Once again I am pleased to report that no case of Diphtheria
was notified in the Borough during the year. Investigations were
carried out in one suspected case of the infection and it was