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45
The year 1958 showed a lower incidence of infectious disease, especially
in the number of cases of measles, 241 cases occurred as compared with
1.978 in the previous year. 56 cases of whooping cough occurred as compared
with 268 in the previous year.
(a) Smallpox.— No cases were notified during 1958.
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 1958 will be found in Part III section
of this report.
(b) Scarlet Fever.— 221 cases occurred in 1958. There were no deaths
from this disease. Only 23 cases were admitted to hospital, the remainder
being nursed at home.
(c) Diphtheria.— No cases occurred in 1958. This is the seventh successive
year in which it has been possible to record a clean " bill of health "
for this disease in Ilford.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.— One case occurred n 1958.
The following figures show the number of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified during the past five years : 1954. nil; 1955, nil; 1956, 7;
1957, 6; 1958, 1. No cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were due to
gonococcal infection.
(e) Enteric Fever (Typhoid and Para-Typhoid).— One case occurred in
1958. The patient, a male aged 23, was admitted to Hospital and made an
uneventful recovery.
(/) Acute Poliomyelitis.— Three cases occurred during 1958. They were
females of 14 and 11 years and a male of 8 years. All were admitted
to Hospital (2 to Rush Green Hospital and 1 to Chadwell Heath Hospital).
Two of the cases recovered without complications. The other patient
suffered some paralysis and was receiving further physiotherapy treatment.
(g) Acute Encephalitis. No cases occurred in 1958.
(/i) Meningococcal Infection.— Six cases were reported— males of 19
and 3 years and females of 23, 5, 1 year and 8½ months respectively. All
were admitted to Chadwell Heath Hospital and made satisfactory recovery.
(0 Pneumonia— Influenzal and Primary.— The number of cases which
occurred during 1958 was 141 as compared with 150 in 1957.
(]) Tuberculosis.— During 1958 there were 93 new notifications of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis and 13 of other forms of Tuberculosis. In addition
67 pulmonary and 4 non-pulmonary cases were transferred to the district.