London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Ilford 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Of the cases notified, the following table shows the percentage treated in institutions, including those who were treated in the institutions from which they were notified:—
| Scarlet Fever | 74.8 |
| Diphtheria and Membranous Croup | 100.0 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 98.3 |
| Pneumonia | 64.3 |
The total number of deaths of Ilford residents from the following infeotious diseases during 1945 and 1946 were as follows:—
| 1945 | 1946 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | — | — | |
| Enteric Fever | — | — | |
| Diphtheria | 2 | 1 | |
| Measles | 2 | — | |
| Whooping Cough | — | 1 | |
| Influonza | 7 | 20 | |
| Tuberculosis- | Pulmonary | 68 | 57 |
| Other forms | 13 | 9 | |
| Pneumonia | 61 | 74 | |
| Diarrhoea (under 2 years) | 8 | 5 | |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | 2 | 3 | |
| Puerperal Sepsis | — | — | |
| Total | 163 | 170 | |
The year 1946, on the whole, showed a lighter incidence to that of 1945.
The number of cases of measles notified was 1,135 as compared with 2,154
the previous year.
(а) Smallpox.—One modified case of smallpox occurred during the year.
The patient—a naval petty officer, aged 26 years—had arrived home on
9th April from the Far East, having disembarked from a troopship at Liverpool
the previous day. The patient was removed to Colchester Isolation
Hospital on the day of notification, 14th April, and was discharged on
29th April. Four other members of the patient's family, and three other
persons who had been in direct contact were vaccinated and were kept under
strict observation. No secondary case occurred.
Appropriate administrative action was taken and intimation sent to all
local medical practitioners and adjoining local authorities.
The year 1946 witnessed the homecoming of a large number of service
personnel from the Far East, where smallpox is a prevalent disease. In
consequence, notification of 225 persons who had been in contact with smallpox
were received. These were visited by the Sanitary Inspectors for the
usual period, 2,099 visits being paid to these persons.
The following gives particulars as to Vaccination during 1946:—
Certificates of Successful Vaccination 2,110
Postponed 48
Conscientious Objections 723
Unsuccessful Vaccination 35
Left the District 328
(b) Scarlet Fever.—242 cases were notified in 1946. There were no
deaths from this disease.