London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Bromley 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]

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Table: The following table shows the incidence of the infection in the Borough since 1965 and it would seem from this that the traditional bi-annual occurrence of an increased incidence of the infection continues to occur, although much reduced by measles vaccination which has brought to an end the big winter epidemics of the illness that were characteristic of the recent past.

The following table shows the incidence of the infection in the Borough since 1965 and it would seem from this that the traditional bi-annual occurrence of an increased incidence of the infection continues to occur, although much reduced by measles vaccination which has brought to an end the big winter epidemics of the illness that were characteristic of the recent past.

YearNumber of Cases Notified
19655,119
19661,236
19674,299
1968398
19691,041
1970668
19711,390

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Meningitis
8 cases of Meningitis were notified during the year compared
with 7 in the preceding year. There was one death reported from
Meningococcal infection.
Poliomyelitis
I am once again pleased to report that no case of this disease
was notified during the year.
Rabies
One suspected animal case of Rabies was reported during the
year, and arrangements were made as a precaution for a member
of the household to receive prophylactic vaccination. The animal
was subsequently shown to have been free from the infection.
Scarlet Fever
This infection continued to occur in a mild form and no
deaths were recorded. 69 cases were notified compared with 56
during the previous year.
Smallpox
No cases of the infection occurred during 1971. In accordance
with the usual arrangements it was necessary for a number
of travellers from overseas who had been possible contacts of the
infection to be kept under surveillance—information concerning
these contacts being received from the Port Health Authorities.
Altogether 19 persons were placed under surveillance in this way
during the year.
The Department was called upon to authenticate the signature
of the Doctor on 9,637 International Certificates of Vaccination
during the year; the corresponding figure for 1970 was 7,342.