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Malaria.
There were 13 notified cases of malaria occurring during the year, of which 12
were removed for hospital treatment. All the cases were contracted abroad. Eleven
of the notifications related to members of the Forces stationed in the Borough.
Dysentery.
Of the 31 notified cases, four were subsequently withdrawn. Eight patients
were removed to hospital. Four cases concerned members of the same family, and
21 cases related to school children. Visits were made by the Sanitary Inspectors
to the homes of all notified cases, which were fully investigated, and specimens from
all members of the household who were contacts were examined. Further treatment
was arranged with the patient's doctor where necessary.
Smallpox.
There were no cases notified during the year, but a few contacts were reported
in the Borough from abroad by the Airport Authorities, and these contacts were
kept under observation for the required period.
Acute Poliomyelitis.
Thirty-one cases were originally notified, 14 of which were subsequently withdrawn,
the revised diagnoses being mainly tonsillitis. There were three deaths
from this disease during the year. The 13 confirmed cases, three of which were
non-paralytic, were distributed evenly throughout the Borough. All except one
of the confirmed cases related to children under the age of ten years.
Typhoid Fever.
For the second year in succession there were no cases of typhoid fever.
Diphtheria.
It is now four years since there was a known case of diphtheria occurring in the
Borough. Nine notifications were received in 1953, but in each case the diagnosis
was revised. Four of the cases were found to be tonsillitis and one glandular fever ;
one of the notified cases was subsequently reported as a fatal case of bronchopneumonia.
Immunisation in London is mainly carried out at the local welfare
clinics, although a number of people are immunised by general practitioners.
Measles.
The number of notifications of measles was 1,051 compared with 1,417 during
the previous year. Forty-two cases occurred in children under the age of one,
540 between the ages of 1 and 5 years, and 419 between the ages of 5 and 15 years.
Eighty-four of the patients were removed to hospital. There were no fatal cases.
Scarlet Fever.
During the year, 215 cases were notified, compared with 259 during the previous
year. It was necessary for only 45 patients to be admitted to hospital. Where
the patient was isolated at home, frequent visits were made by the Sanitary Inspectors
to ensure that proper precautions were maintained. There were no deaths
from scarlet fever.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
During 1953, there were a large number of notifications of puerperal pyrexia,
being a total of 77 compared with 48 in 1952. The revised definition contained in
Regulations made in 1951, together with the fact that notifications are now sent
to the Medical Officer of Health in the district in which the patient is confined, fully
accounts for the increase in notifications. All except two of the notifications were
from the three large maternity units in the Borough.
Food Poisoning.
During 1953, 22 confirmed cases of food poisoning occurred. These cases included
five small outbreaks, each outbreak being confined to an individual family and
involving a total of 13 persons.
One outbreak concerned a family of four. The mother and a school child
became seriously ill after eating some pressed salt beef, which was the food suspected
as causing the illness. The beef had been washed, boiled for four hours, then cooled,
being pressed by means of a heavy weight placed on top of a plate over the meat.
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