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17
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
During the period since 1920 there has been no epidemic
except that of Scarlet Fever during the year 1921, which
affected a large area of this part of the country, when 302
cases were reported in the Borough, the height of the
outbreak being reached during the months of October and
November of that year.
The type was mild, only two deaths being attributed to
the disease. There was a rapid fall in the incidence during
the two following years, 1922 and 1923, but since then
there has again been an increase in its prevalence.
Special reference is made to Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria
and Enteric Fever in subsequent paragraphs.
Immediately upon receipt of notification of an infectious
disease, the home is visited under the direction of the
Medical Officer of Health, and details of the case are
entered upon an enquiry form.
This form is set out to obtain information as to the
disease, removal to hospital, school or place of work, Sunday
School, milk supply, water supply, laundry, library
books, residence previous to illness, any trade carried on
in the house, number of living and sleeping rooms,
number of inmates, etc. Also there is a section for information
with regard to contacts, requiring their names,
ages, schools, or places of work, etc., and a large space
for any further remarks and details as to the sanitary condition
of the premises.
The prompt investigation and completion of this form
is a most important factor in the control of infectious
disease.
During office hours cases are removed to Isolation
Hospital through the Public Health Department. This
procedure, in my opinion, is the most satisfactory one,
since the control and disposal of cases is thereby retained.
During week-ends and general holidays the doctors are
informed that they may remove urgent cases themselves by
communicating by telephone directly with the Isolation
Hospital, and notifying the Medical Officer of Health.
Wimbledon, Molesey, and Hampton Isolation Hospitals
admit cases from the Borough, and this arrangement
has proved satisfactory.