London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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63
POLIOMYELITIS
As is the case with measles the notifications for poliomyelitis
fluctuate greatly from year to year. In the past, however, a hot dry
summer has meant a vast increase in the number of cases. Last Summer
there was plenty of sunshine yet for the third year running no cases
were reported in the Borough. I feel that this satisfactory state of affairs
must be attributed to the successful immunisation programme. However,
the return of this crippling disease will only be prevented whilst the
majority of the population are protected.
The following table gives details of last year's immunisation programme:—
| Number of persons who have received | ||
|---|---|---|
| Second injection SALK vaccine or third dose quadrillin | Third dose ORAL vaccine | |
| Children born in 1964 | ||
| Children born in 1963 | ||
| Children born in 1962 | ||
| Children born in 1961 | ||
| Children and young persons born 1943-1960 | ||
| Young persons born 1933-1942 | ||
| Others | ||
Number of persons given reinforcing dose of SALK or
quadrillin vaccine 966
Number of persons given reinforcing dose of ORAL vaccine 1,688
WHOOPING COUGH
61 cases of whooping cough were notified compared with 105 cases
in 1963. In 1962 only 18 cases were notified. This fluctuation is partly
explained by the periodic variations in the virus's infectivity. However,
few diagnoses are confirmed by laboratory investigation and, as other
infective agents give rise to conditions which cause similar symptoms, the
notifications themselves are therefore suspect.
In its natural form the disease can give rise to unpleasant sequelae,
but fortunately deaths are rare. Most of these fatalities occur in children
under the age of 3 years. The immunisation of babies gives great protection
during this period. A booster at 18 months, whilst giving further
protection during this period also seems to confer a partial degree of
immunity for later years. This partial protection seems to modify the
course of the infection so that a mild uncomplicated form of the disease
results. A lifelong immunity is thereby gained.