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43
The year 1957 showed a higher incidence of infectious disease,
especially in the number of cases of measles, 1,978 cases occurred as
compared with 502 in the previous year. 268 cases of whooping cough
occurred as compared with 396 in the previous year.
(a) Smallpox.—No cases were notified during 1957.
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.
Details of vaccinations during 1957 will be found in Part 111 section
of this report.
(b) Scarlet Fever.— 245 cases occurred in 1957. There were no deaths
from this disease. Only 20 cases were admitted to hospital, the remainder
being nursed at home.
(c) Diphtheria.—No cases occurred in 1957. This is the sixth successive
year in which it has been possible to record a clean "bill of health"
for this disease in Ilford.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Six cases occurred in 1957.
The following figures show the number of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified during the past five years: 1953, nil; 1954, nil; 1955, nil;
1956, 7; 1957, 6. No cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were due to
gonococcal infection.
(e) Enteric fever (Typhoid and Para-Typhoid).—No cases occurred in
1957.
(f) Acute Poliomyelitis.—Seventeen cases of this disease were notified
during the year. They were males of 3, 4, 7, 7, 10, 10, 17 and 18 years
and females of 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 18, 26 and 35 years. All the cases
were removed to hospital—thirteen to the Ilford Isolation Hospital, three
to Rush Green Hospital. Romford and the remaining case to St. Bartholomews
Hospital, London. Three cases recovered without complications
and the others who suffered some paralysis were receiving further physiotherapy
treatment.
There was one death (a male patient of 18 years). In this case the onset
of the disease occurred in 1956, the patient had been removed to Hospital,
where death took place forty days after admission.
It was necessary to exclude from their normal employment two
persons who had been in direct contact with cases of poliomyelitis.
Compensation was paid for the loss of wages in both cases.
(g) Acute Encephalitis.—Two cases were reported—males of 6 and 2½
years. The younger child was admitted to King George Hospital but
died 12 days after admission. The other child was admitted to Ilford
Isolation Hospital and made a good recovery.
(h) Meningococcal Infection.—One case was reported—a female of 3
years. She was removed to the Ilford Isolation Hospital and made a
satisfactory recovery.
(i) Pneumonia—Influenzal and Primary.—The number of cases which
occurred during 1957 was 150 as compared with 159 in 1956.