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P_R_E_F_A_C_E
To: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have pleasure in submitting the 6lst Annual Report on the
Health of the Borough of Woolwich. The Report is on the general
lines indicated by the Minister of Health.
There was a further increase in the total population of the
Borough to 146,850, being 1,380 more than in the previous year,
due mainly to the housing work of the Council and the County
Council.
While the Borough's Birth and Infant Death rates remained
constant, there was a rise in the Death rate to 11.7, as compared
with 10.4 for 1960. The main increases were in deaths from heart
and circulatory diseases, and chest diseases, giving the Borough's
highest Death rate since 1951. The rate, however, still compared
favourably with London as a whole (11.9), and the national figure
of 12.0. There is no apparent environmental cause and too much
weight must not be given to an isolated year, especially when
relatively small numbers are involved. There must, however, be
no complacency, and next year's figures will be awaited.
Infectious diseases presented no particular problem, although
this was a 'measles' year, with over 3,000 notifications. Notwithstanding
the occurrence of cases elsewhere in the Metropolis, there
were no cases of diphtheria, and only one case of poliomyelitis.
This was due in large measure to the continuous effort by the County
Council in their diphtheria and poliomyelitis inoculation schemes.
Although parents may be unfamiliar with the disease it remains of
prime importance that vaccination and inoculation are kept at a high
level.
Smallpox was absent from the Borough during the whole of the
year. However, early in 1962 Woolwich had its first case of
smallpox for many years. After the immediate isolation of the
patient, all known close contacts of the case were ascertained and
immediately vaccinated and placed under surveillance. Other less
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