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SECTION G. — PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL
OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
During the year there were 306 cases of infectious disease notified
compared with 898 in 1957 and 344 in 1956. The decrease was due
mainly to a drop in the number of notifications of measles.
The following infectious diseases are notifiable to the Medical
Officer of Health of the Borough:—
Smallpox
Cholera
Diphtheria (including Membranous Croup)
Erysipelas
Scarlet Fever
Typhus
Enteric or Typhoid Fever
Relapsing Fever
Tuberculosis (all forms)
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute Primary Pneumonia
Acute Influenzal Pneumonia
Puerperal Pyrexia
Measles
Whooping Cough
Meningococcal Infection
Acute Poliomyelitis - Paralytic
Acute Poliomyelitis - Non-Paralytic
Acute Encephalitis - Infective
Acute Encephalitis - Post Infectious
Food Poisoning
Plague
Para-typhoid Fevers
Leprosy is notifiable direct to the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry
of Health.
SMALLPOX.
There were no cases notified in Wimbledon during 1958, but this
disease is still prevalent in some parts of the world and constant vigilance
has to be maintained. From time to time notice is received of persons
arriving in this country who have been in contact with smallpox. All
such contacts are kept under surveillance until the possibility of developing
the disease has disappeared.
Vaccination against smallpox is voluntary and every effort is made
to maintain the high level of protection which the population had at the
time of compulsory vaccination. The view of the Ministry of Health is
that for adequate protection 75% of infants should be vaccinated.
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