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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
For the first time since 1954 a case of ophthalmia neonatorum was
notified in the Borough. The patient, a baby of a few days, was removed
to hospital and made a good recovery.
DYSENTERY
Only one case of dysentery was notified compared with 17 in I960, 11 in
1959 and 24 in 1958. The notified case was of a child of 13 months but no causative
agent was identified on examination of the patient or the contacts.
Every case of dysentery, and suspected case, is followed up systematically,
and the importance of personal hygiene in preventing the spread of infection
stressed at all times. Dysentery is generally a mild illness but will spread
rapidly in nurseries and schools unless quickly checked.
FOOD POISONING
No cases of food poisoning occurred during 1961.
ERYSIPELAS
Two cases were notified, one of which was removed to hospital. Both
recovered.
WINTER EPIDEMICS
In the second week of January information was received from the local office
of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance that the percentage of new
sickness benefit claims of the insured population was 180$ of the average weekly
figure. This figure increased to 350$ of the average vreekly figure for the week
ending the 7th February, but from the week ending the 14th February there was a
steady decline in new sickness benefit claims and by the end of February the
position had returned to normal.
This heavy outbreak of illness was due to an epidemic of influenza including
& rather mixed lot of virus infections. The attendance at schools was also
affected, although only partly due to influenza and colds, as chickenpox, measles
and mumps were also prevalent at the time.
In general the influenza was of a mild type although in some cases, involving
elderly persons, serious complications occurred.
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