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36
The intensive campaign to immunise as many children as
possible is being maintained with a special objective to secure
the immunisation of 75% of babies before their first birthday.
It is calculated that during 1955 the proportion of babies
immunised before they reached the age of 1 year was 67%.
Poliomyelitis.
A total of 10 cases of Poliomyelitis was notified in
Kingston during 1955 compared with nil during 1954. This total
is the highest number recorded in one year in the town and the
onset dates were distributed over 5 months (1 in July 2 in
August, 2 in September„ 3 in October and 2 in November).
There were no deaths and severe paralysis occurred in only 2
cases both being adult females; 4 of the cases were classified
as paralytic and 6 as nonparalytic: 1 occurred in the 2/3 age
group 5 in the 5/10 age group „ 2 in the 10/15 age group and
there were 2 adults. The case in July was in respect of a
visitor to the town who contracted the disease elsewhere but
fell sick and was treated in Kingston. It is significant that
the main incidence took place in the late summer and autumn
7 cases being notified during September or later.
The incidence of poliomyelitis has been high in the
neighbouring districts and your Medical Officer of Health who
is also the County Divisional Medical Officer for these diffitriets,
together with the Medical Officers of Health of the
districtsP and the Physician Superintendent of the hospital
concerned; was able to have special investigation and followup
carried out in each case and many of the family contacts.
This was a great step forward in the management of the
cases and your Medical Officer of Health expresses warm
thanks for the clinical and epidemiological help he received
both with regard to Kingston and extra Kingston cases and
also very sincere gratitude for the virologies! reports and
typing of the infective agents received as a result of the
close collaboration with the hospital and through the hospital
with the Virological Laboratory.
The identification of the virus from specimens was
possible for the first time in eight of the Kingston cases®
Two Kingston children who fell ill within 11 days of each
other had Type 1 virus and investigation proved that they had
a common playmate. The remaining S patients had Type 3 virus
and the onset dates ranged from the end of August to beginning
of November. A direct contact chain linking these 6 eases was
not discovered.
The most Interesting result was obtained in respect of a
young family where a girl aged 2 yearsp was diagnosed with
non-paralytic poliomyelitis. A followup survey revealed
that the patient's 2 sisters, tooth school children had had
symptoms a few days previously but had recovered. Specimens
from the 3 children produced Type 3 virus in each case and
apparently therefore the 2 sisters had suffered abortive
attacks of poliomyelitis but had recovered spontaneously.
With the exception of the 2 adults all cases made good
recoveries and were discharged from hospital within 6 weeks
of admission. Where there was some weakness or limp
following paralytic attacks arrangements were made by the
hospital for children to attend the out-patients Physiotherapy
Department.