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The year 1952, on the whole, showed a slightly lower incidence of
infectious disease than 1951. The number of cases of measles was 3,166
as compared with 2,985 the previous year. Whooping cough cases
numbered 756 as compared with 1,026 in the year 1951.
(a) Smallpox.—No cases were notified during 1952. Notifications
regarding 3 persons who had been in contact with cases of smallpox in
other areas or on board ship were received. These were visited by the
Sanitary Inspectors, five visits being paid.
One suspected case of Smallpox occurred during the year. The patient
was admitted to hospital, but the case was not confirmed.
The following gives particulars as to vaccination during 1952:—
Primary vaccination 1,428
Re-Vaccination 435
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, compulsory vaccination
was abolished, and from 5th July, 1948, this service became the responsibility
of the Essex County Council vide Section 26 of the National Health
Service Act, 1948.
(b) Scarlet Fever.—409 cases occurred in 1952. There were no deaths
from this disease. Seven cases were admitted to Isolation Hospitals outside
the district.
(c) Diphtheria.—No cases occurred in 1952. This is the first year in
which it has been possible to record a clean "bill of health" for this
disease in Ilford.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—No cases occurred in 1952.
The following figures show the number of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified during the past five years: 1948. 4; 1949. 1; 1950, 2;
1951, 3; 1952, nil. It is to be remembered that many cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum are not due to gonorrheal infection.
(e) Enteric Fever.—Two cases only occurred during the year, both
females, ages 19 and 42 years. Both cases were para-typhoid fever "B".
One was admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital, the other attended the
Out-patients' Department, London Hospital. The patients recovered satisfactorily.
(f) Typhus fever.—A case of this disease occurred in March, 1952.
The patient, a female of 21 years, left New Zealand on 26th January by
steamship. The vessel passed through the Panama Canal and the patient
went ashore at Colon and Curacao Island. The vessel arrived at Southampton
on 26th February and the patient reached Ilford the next day.
being admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital on 29th February. The
patient recovered after a stay of 33 days in Hospital.
This type of typhus fever is transmitted by the bite of a tick and is
not louse-borne, as is the usual type of typhus fever.
(g) (i) Acute Poliomyelitis.—Fifteen cases occurred during the year.
They were males of 5, 6, 8, 8, 10, 13 and 18 years and females of
3, 3, 3, 4, 24, 25, 29 and 31 years. Twelve cases were admitted to the
Ilford Isolation Hospital, two to Rush Green Hospital, Romford, and
one case was nursed at home.
Eleven cases were paralytic and four non-paralytic. One paralytic
case was fatal, that of a male patient, aged 18 years, who died
within a few minutes of admission to hospital.
(ii) Acute Encephalitis.—One case only of this disease occurred.
It was in a male child of five years who was admitted to the Ilford
Isolation Hospital. The child was discharged after 5 weeks in hospital,
having made a satisfactory recovery.