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
Wimbledon 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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SECTION F. — PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL
OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
During the year there were 969 cases of infectious disease
notified, as compared with 849 during 1948. Of the total notifications
707 were in respect of measles and 149 in respect of whooping cough.
Diphtheria.
Six cases of diphtheria were notified during the year. Four of
these were physically handicapped children who travelled from Wimbledon
to special schools in the L.C.C. area by coach daily. Three
of these children had been immunised against diphtheria, but one had
received only one immunising injection. Two of the immunised
children were found to be only diphtheria carriers, whilst the other
two had a mild form of the disease.
With regard to the two remaining cases of diphtheria one was
a child aged 4 years who was stated to have been immunised in
South Africa in 1945, and the other was an unimmunised girl of
19 who had a rather severe attack of the disease.
All the patients were removed to hopsital.
Immunisation against Diphtheria.
The following table shows the state of immunisation in Wimbledon in relation to the child population under the age of 5 years. The authority responsible for immunisation is now the Surrey County Council.
| Age at 31-12-49. | No. immunised. | Total child population. |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 25 | 4547 |
| 1 year | 615 | |
| 2 years | 861 | |
| 3 years | 768 | |
| 4 years | 595 | |
| 2864 |
Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis.
There were nine confirmed cases of poliomyelitis and one of
polioencephalitis during the year. Seven other patients, suspected
to be suffering from poliomyelitis, were removed to hospital for
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