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37
Smallpox.
There were no cases recorded in Kingston during 1956.
This disease is still very prevalent in many parts of the world
and constant vigilance is necessary,, Whilst no cases have been
recorded in the country for 3 years the possibility of it being
introduced at any time is always present.
Particular surveillance has to be maintained 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 Vaccination 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 during their early months. This is
carried out by General Practitioners and at the Surrey County
Council clinics. Vaccination and re-vaccination is available
free for persons of all ages. At present some 50% of children
are vaccinated during their first year and it is desirable that
all efforts should be made to raise this figure to at least 75%.
Scarlet Fever.
Seventeen cases were notified during 1956, 10 of which
were of school age. Most of the cases were mild and only 3
were removed to hospital for treatment. There were no deaths.
Scarlet Fever is a streptococcal infection and cannot
therefore always be expected to take the form of the mild illness
which it has in fact tended to become in the majority of
cases occurring since the war. There is always the possibility
of complications and a reversion to an illness of greater
severity. Modern drugs still prove to be a good weapon against
this infection.
Diphtheria.
For the ninth year in succession no cases of Diphtheria
occurred in Kingston. An intensive campaign is carried out
to immunise the school and pre-school 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 immunisation.
There is no guarantee that the disease will not return,
in fact during 1956 in England and Wales 63 cases of diphtheria
were notified and there were 16 deaths. These figures compare
with 3,575 notifications and 156 deaths in 1948. Only a population
with a high level of immunity will be safeguarded, and
prevention by immunisation is still an essential public service.
The method employed during 1956 was to provide a combined
immunisation process against diphtheria and whooping cough
carried out in 3 injections at monthly intervals. Single
injection "boosters" are given within a period of 5 years
after the primary inoculation.