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At the same time we desire to point out that we do not report
in favour of Measles being added to the list of legally notifiable
diseases, and that the adoption of these sections of the Act by the
Countv Council would not make it a notifiable disease.
The sections of the Public Health Act quoted in the letter give
power to Local Authorities to require disinfection after cases of
Measles, and to prevent children suffering from Measles attending
school, or being exposed in public.
YVe find that disinfection is now carried out after Measles in
most London Boroughs, where possible, and it is obviously desirable
that Local Authorities should have power to deal with any cases
that may be reported, or with any cases of exposure of infected
persons or thiDgs.
Many persons look upon Measles as a trivial disease, and therefore
take no precautions, whereas at the present time it causes a
greater mortality than any other infectious disease. Thus, in
London, in 1899, there were, according to the Report of the
Registrar-General, 398 deaths from Scarlet Fever, 1,946 from
Diphtheria, 1,728 from Whooping Cough, 759 from Enteric Fever,
and 2,141 from Measles. Moreover, nearly all the deaths from
Measles are in young children, who, if they could be protected from
it until after the age of six years, would be much less likely to
succumb to the complaint.
We are of opinion that the placing of Measles among "Dangerous
Infectious Diseases," with the consequent warnings which
would be issued to parents during times of epidemic, would lead the
public to look more seriously upon this disease, and to take steps to
avoid the fatal complications which ensue from improper exposure
and want of care.
We would point out that Board School Teachers are bound to
inform Medical Officers of Health of any case of Measles or other
infectious disease among the children, and that many Church and
private schools do so voluntarily, thereby obtaining the Government
grant for such children as have to be excluded in consequence.