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97
WHOOPING COUGH
A total of 94 cases of whooping cough was notified during 1967
compared with 28 cases in 1966. There are at least two reasons for this
increase: one being the fluctuation in infectivity that has been particularly
obvious since 1961; whilst the other is the wide interest aroused by the
research project in which the Department has collaborated with the
Public Health Laboratory service. This has now been completed but the
detailed results are not yet available. The project was conceived because
it was thought as other agents give rise to similar symptoms the infections
being notified might not all be due to the whooping cough virus. All cases
were visited and specimens taken for culture and analysis.
MEASLES
The periodicity of measles epidemics was again demonstrated during
1967 when there were 2,052 cases notified compared with 716 the previous
year. Although death is a rare occurrence, nevertheless complications are
common and all too often there are unpleasant permanent sequelae.
Consequently, it is hoped that in due course immunisation will be effective
in reducing the severity of the disease. The Joint Committee on Vaccination
and Immunisation of the Central and Scottish Health Service were invited
by the Ministry of Health to consider the results of the Medical Research
Council's evaluation of the measles vaccines. They reported in 1966 that
the trials had shown that although the measles prophylactics were effective
and acceptable procedures nevertheless they felt that local authorities
should not yet seek to make arrangements under Section 26 of the National
Health Service Act. They recommended that the services should be made
available through family doctors who wished to use the vaccines for their
patients. The year 1967 was the first full year in which immunisation was
available.
SMALLPOX
Immigration, commerce and holiday travel have all led to an increasing
number of travellers arriving in this country, many of these originate
from or pass through areas where smallpox is endemic. Air travel has also
meant than an infected person could have lived in this country for several
days before developing symptoms. As a result there has been and will be a
small number of cases of smallpox occuring in this country. Immediately
each case is diagnosed the patient is carefully questioned and all those
who have been in contact during the infectious state are kept under
surveillance and offered vaccination. Under the Public Health (Ships)
Regulations, 1966 and the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1966
travellers from countries where smallpox is endemic and who are not in
possession of valid international certificates of vaccination against the
disease are placed under surveillance for a period of fourteen days after
their disembarkation and 24 such persons proceeding to addresses in the
Borough were notified and kept under surveillance for the statutory period
during the year.