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PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
The following diseases are compulsorily notifiable in the
Borough:-
Anthrax, Cholera, Diphtheria, Dysentery,
Encephalitis (Acute), Erysipelas, Enteric Fever,
Food Poisoning, Leprosy, Malaria, Measles,
Membranous Croup, Meningococcal Infection,
Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Pneumonia (Acute Primary),
Pneumonia (Acute Influenzal), Poliomyelitis,
Polio-encephalitis, Plague,- Puerperal Pyrexia,
Relapsing Fever, Scabies, Scarlet Fever (or
Scarlatina), Smallpox, Tuberculosis (all forms).
Typhoid Fever (including Paratyphoid), Typhus Fever,
Whooping Cough, and Zymotic Enteritis.
Cases of infectious disease notified to the Department are
immediately visited by the Public Health Inspectors and disinfection
is carried out wherever applicable. Where the patient is nursed
at home, the Inspectors see that home isolation continues satisfactorily,
and at the end of the infectious period, where necessary, the
bedding belonging to the patient is removed for treatment at the
Disinfecting Station and the room sealed and fumigated.
A total of only 301 cases of infectious diseases was notified
during the year, being a decrease of 3,051 on the previous year.
119 cases were removed to hospital. The substantial reduction in
total notifications is due to the small number of notifications of
measles (66, compared with 3,057 the previous year).
SMALLPOX
For the first time for 29 years the Borough had a confirmed
case of Smallpox during the year. The patient, an Insurance Agent
of 38 years of age, living In the Woolwich area, first fell ill on
the 13th January. He took to his bed on the following day and
remained there until his admission to Hospital.
Chickenpox was prevalent in the district at the time and this
highly modified rash with mild general symptoms was therefore not
immediately brought to the notice of the Health Department.
Viriological confirmation was obtained and he was removed to Long
Reach Hospital on the 24th January.
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