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 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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96
Infectious and Other Diseases
Prevalence of Notifiable Infectious Diseases
(Other than Tuberculosis)
TABLE I
| Disease | Und. 1 yr. | 1- 4 yrs. | 5-9 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. | 15-19 yrs. | 20-24 yrs. | 25-34 yrs. | 35-44 yrs. | 45-54 yrs. | 55-64 yrs. | 65 + yrs. | Unknown | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | – | 20 | 44 | 8 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 74 |
| Pneumonia Primary | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 23 | |
| Pneumonia Influenzal | — | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| Diphtheria | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dysentery | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | 15 | |
| Erysipelas | — | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | 7 |
| Meningococcal Infection | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| Poliomyelitis, Paralytic | — | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Poliomyelitis, Non „ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Encephalitis Infective | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Measles | 66 | 1,098 | 816 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 4 | – | 2 | – | 25 | 2052 |
| Whooping Cough | 6 | 51 | 31 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 94 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Typhoid Fever | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Food Poisoning | – | 3 | 5 | – | – | 2 | 4 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 15 |
| Malaria | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 |
DIPHTHERIA
The last two cases of diphtheria to be reported in the Borough
occurred during the three years 1947-49. Consequently we are entering a
period where the younger parents have neither seen nor heard of a case of
diphtheria and it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the high
levels of immunisation which are essential to protect the community. The
number of small outbreaks of recent years have only served to indicate
that constant vigilance alone will prevent the return of this killing disease.
POLIOMYELITIS
Fortunately, during the last six years no cases of Poliomyelitis have
been notified within the Borough. Prior to this period notifications had
shown a steady decline since 1957 when the immunisation programme
commenced. This satisfactory trend must be attributed to immunisation,
but the return of this crippling disease will only be prevented whilst the
majority of the population remain protected.