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39
Enteric Fever (Typhoid or Paratyphoid).
There were no cases of typhoid or paratyphoid B notified
in Kingston during 1956 and this is the ninth successive year
without notification of Enteric Fever. Such infection that
does occur throughout England and Wales is mostly imported from
abroad through contaminated foodstuffs.
Foreign travellers may contract typhoid and have been
known to return to this country with the infection.
Dysentery (Sonne).
A total of 21 cases of dysentery was notified during 1956
compared with 5 during 1955. These were all confirmed by
laboratory reports on stool specimens taken from the patients
and in each case the bacillary dysentery organism shigella
sonne was shown to be present.
The prevalence of sonne dysentery has increased throughout
the country during the last few years, and although usually
a mild illness with a low fatality rate, its presence causes a
great deal of work in tracing contacts, and is of considerable
nuisance. Every effort is made to prevent the spread of
infection although the disease can and does run rapidly through
schools etc. Its presence in a nursery for example can be a
very serious matter.
The 21 Kingston cases were all in respect of individuals
or individual families; 2 cases only were treated in hospital,
and all recovered without incident.
Each case of dysentery is followed up intensively and all
persons concerned are given advice regarding personal and
general hygiene. It has been proved that the simple act of
hand washing after using the W.C. can be of utmost importance
in preventing the spread of sonne. The Public Health
Inspectors take every opportunity of illustrating this fact to
members of the general public, and especially those concerned
with food handling, and the care of young children.
Measles.
There were 35 cases of measles notified during 1956
compared with 170 in 1955. Generally speaking the illness was
of a mild type with little by way of complications and all
cases were nursed at home. The majority of the illnesses (16)
occurred in children in the 5/10 age group, and 15, in younger
children. The remaining 4 notifications referred to the 15/20
age group.
Whooping Cough.
This is one of the most serious of childhood illnesses
and immunisation has been offered to all children for four
years now. This is usually done in a combined process in conMotion
with diphtheria immunisation, and practically 100% of
the children being immunised for the first time receive a
"combined" material.
During 1956, 58 cases of whooping cough were notified
compared with 17 in 1955, 21 in 1954, 126 in 1953, 102 in
1952, and 222 in 1951. The average number of cases occurring
during the previous five years was 97.