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(iii)
Infectious Disease- The number of infectious disease notifications
received in 1963 was 506 compared with 81 in 1962, a difference
of 425 which is mainly accounted for by the notification of 385 more
cases of measles than in 1962.
Active protection of the child population against diphtheria,
whooping cough, tetanus, smallpox, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis was
continued at a good pace.
Diphtheria- For the sixteenth year in succession no cases of
diphtheria occurred in Kingston. Continued freedom from any illness
creates a complacency in the minds of the people but this must be combated
particularly in regard to diphtheria which is always likely to
reappear, and will do so if protective immunisation of children is not
kept up to a high level.
Parents are constantly encouraged to take full advantage of the
immunisation service provided, particularly the initial protection
given in a child's first year of life. Intensive campaigns are also
carried out to immunise the school and pre-school population against
this disease. This is done under my direction as Medical Officer of
Health as well as Divisional Medical Officer for North Central Division
of Surrey, at the Surrey County Council Clinics and by General Medical
Practitioners.
Food Poisoning- It is pleasing to record that whilst there are so
many restaurants, cafes and food shops in the town, no cases of food
poisoning were reported which could be attributed to such premises.
Twentynine cases of food poisoning were notified during the year
and of these, two related to mild isolated cases, one to a patient who
was admitted to hospital, and the remaining twentysix notifications
were in respect of an outbreak which occurred in a hospital.
I am pleased to report that the constant hard work of the inspectors
on food handling is being rewarded by the maintenance by the proprietors
of a high (standard of food hygiene in the town.
Housing and Rehousing- We are glad to note the progress in new
homes for the people by completed schemes and others commenced in 1963.
There is still a constant need for further housing and particularly one
would mention young people setting up for the first time.
The old people also require further provision of specially designed
dwellings where they can be assisted in case of emergency. An additional
point on provision is that many old people are in under-occupied Corporation
houses and if they could be provided with suitable accommodation
and persuaded to move, accommodation would quickly become available for
others.