View report page

35
Smallpox
There were no eases recorded in Kingston during 1955
This disease is still very prevalent in many parts of the world
and one of the modem dangers is from smallpox being imported
by air travellers who travel long distances in times much less
than the incubation period. Particular surveillance is kept
over persons arriving in the town from abroad when they have
been notified to the department as having been contacts of
cases or suspected cases, The majority of countries now Insist
upon an International Certificate of Vaecination being produced
before travellers are allowed to land. In this connection a
large number of certificates issued by Kingston doctors are
officially authenticated in the Public Health Department each
year in accordance with regulations.
Vaccination is voluntary and every effort is made to
maintain a high level of immunity to smallpox in the population
by vaccinating the infants daring their early months. This is
carried out by General Practitioners and at the Surrey County
Council clinics. Vaccination and 3.c vaccination is available
free for person of all ages.
Scarlet Fever.
Attention has been drawn in previous reports to the fact
that there is a steady decline each year in the number of cases
of scarlet fever occurring* Only 11 jases were notified during
1955, 9 of which were of school age. All off the cases were
mild and not one of them had to be removed to hospital for
treatment. There were no deaths or "return cases'".
The total of 11 is the lowest ever recorded and the annual
average number of cases over the previous 5 years is 31,
Diphtheria.
For the eighth year in succession no cases of Diphtheria
were notified in Kingston. An intensive campaign is carried
out to immunise the school and preschool population against
this disease and this is done under the control of the Medical
Officer of Health at the surrey County Council clinics and by
the General Medical Practitioners. Freedom from diphtheria
can create a complacency resulting in apathy towards
immunisations but there is no guarantee that the disease will
not return in fact during 1955 in England and Wales 161
cases of diphtheria were notified and there were 11 deaths.
These figures compare with 3,575 notifications and 156 deaths
in 1948. Only a population with a high level of immunity
will be safeguarded9 and prevention by immunisation is still
an essential public service.
The present day method is to provide a combined
immunisation process against diphtheria and whooping cough
which is carried out in 3 injections at monthly intervals.
Single injection "boosters" era given within a period of 5
years after the primary inoculation.
During 1955, 3,024 Kingston children were immunised for
the first time or received reinforcing "booster" injections,
A figure known as the immunity index which is shown as a
percentages is computed each year. This relates to the proportion
off the child population which is known to have
received inoculation during the previous 5 years. The
immunity index for the 1/4 age group is 76% and the total
index for all children under the age of 15 is 45%