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44
Information regarding cases of measles reaches the Public Health
Department in various ways:—From the School Authorities, from the
Measles Visitor, from the Health Visitor, and from Medical Practitioners in
the Borough. The number of cases thus brought to our knowledge was
2,073.
Upon the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, the London
County Council will take severe cases, or cases in which home nursing is
specially difficult. During the year the number of cases removed to the
hospitals of the Council was 568.
In accordance with arrangements made by the Borough Council, the
District Nursing Association paid 320 visits in connection with 20 cases of
measles.
Reference was made in the last Report to the temporary appointment
of a Measles Nurse. This officer, who was appointed in November, 1931,
continued until May, 1932 to carry out the duty of visiting homes in which
information was received from the schools that cases of Measles had occurred
or were suspected.
This scheme of co-operation with the London County Council School
Medical Service worked smoothly and well and was undoubtedly the means
of securing institutional treatment, or less frequently, nursing assistance in
the homes in a large number of cases.
From the figures that have been given it will be seen that during 1932
Measles was responsible for a very great deal of illness and for a high proportion
of all the deaths of children under five years of age.
As has been explained in previous reports, Measles is an epidemic
disease. The serious epidemic, of which the figures for 1932 only express a
part, began in 1931.
The following particulars which relate to the epidemic as a whole cover
the period from 1st November, 1931 to 31st August, 1932.
Total number of cases brought to the notice of the Department 1,673
Number of cases reported from Schools on Form 84 (including
suspected cases) 748
Total number of deaths 73
Measles Nurse:
How long employed: 5½ months—December-May.
Number of homes visited 2,096
Number of visits 2,932
Number of schools included under Scheme of Control 19 (out of 26)
Total number of cases admitted to Fever, General and Voluntary
Hospitals 750
Percentage of cases removed to hospital 43.9%