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13
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Notifications. The total number of notifications received was 3,042. They
relate to the following diseases:—

Diphtheria. There was a slight increase in the number of notifications received,
but nevertheless, generally the incidence of diphtheria has declined, as shown
by the fact that during the quinquennium 1939-43 the average number of cases
notified per annum was 83 compared with an average of 375 cases per annum for
the quinquennium 1929-33.
In connection with the campaign to secure the immunisation of as many
children between the ages of one and five as possible, special visits to these homes
were made by the health visitors at the end of 1942 and at the beginning of 1943.
In consequence, it was found necessary to extend the Council's scheme—a family
doctor scheme. Special immunisation clinics at welfare centres, and at some first
aid posts were therefore arranged, and these continued all through 1943.
The number of children immunised under the Council's schemes was 2,116.
In addition, 1,093 school children were immunised by medical officers of the London
County Council. The percentages of the child population immunised for the two
age groups 0-5 and 5-15, based on estimated population, were 62 and 76 respectively.
Refusals for various reasons and failure to keep appointments are still encountered.
This is in contrast to the experience of the day nurseries, briefly referred to
elsewhere, where all that is required of the parent is the necessary signature agreeing
to immunisation, and refusals are virtually unknown.
Whooping Cough. Whooping cough is a dangerous and distressing disease
of childhood.
In January, the Council formulated a scheme on the same lines as the diphtheria
immunisation scheme for preventive inoculation against this disease. The
scheme was brought to the notice of the medical practitioners in the Borough, and
in all 119 children were given the inoculations.
Influenza. The epidemic which occurred in the latter part of the year and
in the early months of 1944 was not very severe in Woolwich. Arrangements were
made, however, through the Women's Voluntary Services, the Woolwich Council