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
Stepney 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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of attack and of death it results that the fatality from measles is very much higher
in the second year of life than in any of those succeeding years ; while, therefore,
more children die of measles in the second year of life than at any other age, more
children are attacked by this disease in each of the three years following : so that
children in the second year of life, although less susceptible to attack, are much
more likely to die if attacked than any other children."
Measles was made a notifiable disease in May, and the order came into force on May 13th. Between May 13th and the end of November, 1,819 cases were notified, and the following table refers to these cases:—
| No. Notified. | Deaths.* | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year of age | 207 | 24 |
| Between 1 and 2 years of age | 384 | 54 |
| Between 2 and 3 years of age | 290 | 6 |
| Between 3 and 4 years of age | 330 | 4 |
| Between 4 and 5 years of age | 281 | 1 |
| Between 5 and 6 years of age | 180 | 1 |
| Between 6 and 7 years of age | 69 | None. |
| Between 7 and 8 years of age | 37 | None. |
| Over 8 years of age | 41 | None. |
* This includes the deaths of 28 children who were not notified, 10 being under
1 year of age, and 18 between 1 and 2 years of age
Of the cases officially notified, the fatality was as follows:—
Under 1 year of age 6.8 per cent. proved fatal.
Between 1 and 2 years of age 9.3 ,, ,,
Between 2 and 3 years of age 2.06 ,, ,,
Above 3 years of age 63 „ ,,
It is admitted that the difficulty experienced in the prevention of the spread
of Measles in schools is also experienced in infected households. The disease is most
infectious in its earliest stages, and before the rash appears. Circulars have always
been distributed warning parents of the early infectiousness of measles, and, until
parents take precautions during outbreaks of Measles, to isolate all children who
may have running from the eyes and nose, it will be impossible to prevent the
spread of the disease. After the adoption of compulsory notification, we were able
to adopt special methods in those households which contained children of the most
susceptible age.