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pregnancy was almost three times that of the control infants. In the event
of exposure to this infection early in pregnancy, the expectant mother, if
susceptible, should be given gamma globulin.
Glandular Fever
Of the three clinical manifestations of infectious mononucleosis, the
glandular fever variety is common in children. In this the lymphatic
glands and the spleen are enlarged, but there is no throat involvement. The
illness might last two to several weeks. The causative agent is unknown. It
is not known how the infection is spread, though probably the source is
man, transmission being by the respiratory tract.
In early March attention was drawn to the occurrence of a number
of cases in the junior department of a maintained school. In the week
ending January 23rd, two children in one class fell ill; this class remained
free subsequently. The following week a child in another class fell ill. In
the next week there were three cases amongst the pupils of another
class, which subsequently remained free. A fortnight later another child
in the same class as the child who fell ill in the week ending 28th January
succumbed and then a fortnight later, the week ending March 4th, a third
pupil in this class fell ill.
Influenza
Towards the end of 1960 there was no indication of any undue
prevalence of the influenza virus anywhere in the world so that it was
hoped that the country might once more escape the outbreak in the
winter months. In the last two weeks of the year there was the usual rise in
deaths from respiratory complaints. About the middle of December, an
influenzal type of illness affected many of those in the Midland region.
Influenza virus A was isolated from several cases, this virus being similar
to or possibly identical with the Asian influenzal virus. The outbreak then
spread to the North-Western region and then to the Eastern region.
Respiratory diseases due to other causes became prevalent in many parts
of the country. Some indication of prevalence in the London region is
obtained from the Emergency Bed Service which, in the event of heavy
demands on hospital beds, issues first a yellow warning and then a red
warning. The red warning came into operation on January 23rd. In the
last weeks of the month the sickness benefit claims in this district rose to
figure of 250 per cent. above the usual weekly average. Most of the deaths
from influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis which had risen steeply, were
in the Midlands and North West region. The number of deaths attributed
to the disease reached a peak of 1,400 in the week ending February 11th.
Most of these deaths were amongst those over fifty-five. The outbreak had
largely subsided by the middle of March. When it reached this part of the
country, the infection was apparently milder and less damaging than the
outbreak that had occurred in the Midlands and the North Western