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Whooping Cough.
Two hundred and thirty-five cases were notified during the year, the
figure for 1955 being 147. There were no deaths from the disease.
Infectious Disease Contacts.
Where a person is precluded from continuing at work by reason of
being a carrier, or having been in contact with an infectious disease,
benefits under the National Insurance Act, 1946, are only paid on production
of a certificate from the Medical Officer of Health. It was found
necessary to issue two such certificates during the year.
Authentication of International Certificates of Vaccination and
Inoculation.
A person proceeding abroad is required in certain countries to
produce a certificate of recent successful vaccination and inoculation,
and, in addition, the signature of the vaccinating doctor must be verified
by the Medical Officer of Health of the district. The signature on 671
such certificates were verified by me during the year as those of medical
practitioners practising in Stepney, and the certificates were endorsed
accordingly.
Disinfection.
Eighty premises were disinfected because of infectious disease, of
which 7 were for pulmonary tuberculosis.
22,585 articles of clothing and bedding were steam disinfected,
including 13,525 articles for export, for which 60 certificates were
issued.
Formaldehyde disinfection of 117,000 articles of clothing, 220 tons
of boots and 186 tons of waste paper for export was also carried out
during the year, for which 53 certificates were issued.
The charges for export and other disinfections carried out amounted
to £182.
Disinfestation (bed bugs and other insect pests).
The following is a summary of work carried out by the specialist
inspectors engaged on disinfestation duties:-
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