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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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53
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
In 1972 there were no changes in national policy concerning infectious
disease control.
Since August 1971 vaccination against smallpox is no longer offered
as a routine measure, but the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
did recommend that certain people should continue to be protected
e.g. health service staff and overseas travellers to and from certain
countries.
The following table shows the incidence of infectious disease in the Borough during 1972:-
| 1-4-yrs. | 5-9 yrs. | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 yrs. | 25-34 yrs. | 35-44 yrs. | 45-54 yrs. | 55-64 yrs. | 65 & | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Encephalitis | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acute Meningitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Anthrax | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cholera | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Diphtheria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Dysentery | - | 4 | 3 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 12 |
| Food Poisoning | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | _ | - | 6 |
| Infective Jaundice | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 17 |
| Leprosy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | _ |
| Leptospirosis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Malaria | — | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 1 | - | _ | 4 | |
| Measles | 5 | 42 | 40 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 91 |
| Ophthalmia Neontorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paratyphoid Fever | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Plague | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Poliomyelitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Relapsing Fever | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Scarlet Fever | — | 4 | 8 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 16 |
| Smallpox | |||||||||||||
| Tetanus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tuberculosis(Pulmonary) | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 48 |
| Tuberculosis (Other) | - | - | — | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 17 |
| Tuberculosis (Men.) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Typhoid Fever | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Typhus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Whooping Cough | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 |
| Yellow Fever | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 5 | 55 | 56 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 219 |
Measles
Only 91 cases of measles were notified in 1972 compared with 291
and 1,080 in 1971 and 1970 respectively. This reduction supports the view
which was expressed last year that the periodicity exhibited by the measles
virus has been altered by the vaccination programme.
Infective Jaundice
Seventeen cases were notified this year. This compares with 15 in the
previous year. Although there still seems to be a fairly even spread of
cases throughout the whole age range there was still a slight predominence
amongst young adults as in 1971.