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Deaths
Tuberculosis caused the death of 2 male and 2 female local residents.
Prevention
For many years, three of the vital factors in the prevention of tuberculosis
have been, firstly, epidemiological investigation of contacts of
actual cases, secondly, routine vaccination of school children and, thirdly,
the use of mass x-ray facilities in attempting to diagnose new cases of
infection.
The epidemiological investigation of contacts of actual cases consists
of routine medical examinations and tests carried out on all those with
whom the patient has been in contact. These are carried out by the staff
of the chest clinic. Those living with the patient are also helped by the
social support given in their homes by the tuberculosis visitors attached
to these clinics.
In addition, whenever a pupil, teacher or other member of the staff
attending a school is found to have tuberculosis, then the question of the
need for an epidemiological investigation at the school is discussed with
the staff of the appropriate chest clinic. Whilst it is pleasing to be able
to record that no school child was reported as having contracted tuberculosis
during 1971, there were unfortunately two cases of tuberculosis
at other educational establishments. One teacher at the Harrow Technical
College was notified as suffering from the disease whilst the second case
concerned a student at the Harrow College of Further Education, Hatch
End. Surveys were carried out at both establishments and none of the
contacts of these cases were found to be infected.