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54
Diphtheria and Poliomyelitis
This was again a year when no resident contracted either of these
diseases. This satisfactory position must still be attributed in part to
firstly, the constant pressure of health education by all members of staff
and secondly to the good sense shown by parents in responding to the
immunisation and vaccination facilities provided by the local authority
and general practitioners.
Whooping Cough
Only 6 cases were notified during 1972 compared with 25 in 1971.
This reduction may still be due to the difficulty to recognise patients who
are suffering from only mild manifestations of the disease.
Cholera and Smallpox
Outbreaks of both diseases continued to occur in various parts of the
world despite the undoubted successful progress towards worldwide
eradication. In an endeavour to prevent either disease being introduced
into the country and not recognised as such, all travellers coming from
countries where either disease is endemic and who are not in possession of
valid international certificates of vaccination against the diseases are placed
under surveillance. In the case of smallpox this period lasts for 14 days
whilst in the case of cholera it is for the much shorter time of 5 days.
During 1972 the number of persons kept under surveillance for 14
days on returning to this Borough from smallpox endemic areas was 88.
Of these visits 51 were in connection with the outbreak in Yugoslavia
during the period March-May 1972.